Adenson Chourio

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2005-07: Spent three years in VSL and improved significantly each year, getting on base lots and stealing bases.

2008: Like nearly all of team’s Latin American prospects from the Littlefield years, was older than you’d want when he reached GCL. Did very well there, batting leadoff and continuing to get on base, earning him trip to State College after GCL season ended. Obviously, was hampered by extreme lack of power, which figured to impact him more at higher levels. He’s unlikely to continue drawing walks from pitchers who figure they can just knock the bat out of his hands. I’m also convinced that speedy slap hitters, relative to other hitters, find it more difficult to be productive as they move up through the minors. The defenses improve but the hitters don’t get faster, so the infield and bloop hits get increasingly hard to come by.

2009: Was slated to start off as utility infielder at West Virginia, but became starter at second when Jarek Cunningham went out for season due to knee injury. Was overmatched early in season, posting OPS of .356 in April and .527 in May. Picked it up after that. Remained a good base stealer. After Chase d’Arnaud moved up to Lynchburg, spent much of time at short, with Greg Picart moving to second.

2010: Returned to West Virginia in utility role at start of season, but had to move up to Bradenton when Marauders’ injury epidemic started with Rodolfo Cardona going out for year. Chourio was involved in the collision that cost Brock Holt most of the season, then missed some time himself. Ultimately played all three infield positions, with majority of games coming at short. Obviously, didn’t hit at all.

Chourio will probably return in a utility role somewhere in class A in 2011.