Juan Machado

JUAN MACHADO, CENTER FIELDER
Born: June 4, 2003
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 145
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Signed: Int’l Free Agent, 2020, Pittsburgh Pirates
How Acquired: International Free Agent
Country: Venezuela
Agent: N/A
WTM’s PLAYER PROFILE
Machado is a very speedy outfielder who, so far, has gotten on base a ton due to extremely high walk rates.  He played a little at second in his debut season but hasn’t done so since.

2021
DSL:  235/403/314, 51 AB, 2 2B, 1 3B, 13 BB, 19 K, 3-3 SB

Machado didn’t play a lot in his debut, but he did get on base at a prodigious rate thanks to a lot of walks.  He divided his time mainly between left field and second base.

2022
DSL:  311/475/338, 74 AB, 1 3B, 20 BB, 20 K, 16-20 SB

Splitting his time among the three outfield spots, Machado got a little more playing time than the year before, hampered by missing nearly a month with an injury.  He got on base in nearly half of his plate appearances, helped by a walk rate and a BABIP (.411) that were both off the charts.  He showed no power at all, but did well at stealing bases.

Machado should be in the FCL in 2023.  He’ll have an uphill battle, because high walk rates unaccompanied by any power don’t tend to hold up well as players advance from the lowest levels.

CONTRACT INFORMATION
2023: Minor League Contract
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus: N/A
MiLB Debut: 2021
MLB Debut: N/A
MiLB FA Eligible: 2027
MLB FA Eligible: N/A
Rule 5 Eligible: 2025
Added to 40-Man: N/A
Options Remaining: 3
MLB Service Time: 0.000
TRANSACTIONS
September 28, 2020: Signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an international free agent.