Brad Chalk

BRAD CHALK
CENTER FIELDER
Born: January 20, 1986
Height: 6′ 1″
Weight: 180
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Drafted: 2nd Round, 87th Overall, 2007
How Acquired: Rule 5 Draft, AAA Phase
College: Clemson University
Agent: N/A

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES
The Pirates selected Chalk in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft.  He’s a speedy centerfielder who’s strictly a slap hitter with no power at all.  He never hit a HR in his college career.  He’s supposedly a good defensive player with an average arm.  He played mostly center with the Padres until his last year, when he played mostly left.

2007
R:  364/451/477, 44 AB, 5 2B, 6 BB, 6 K, 3-5 SB
A-:  229/312/301, 83 AB, 2 2B, 2 3B, 10 BB, 22 K, 0-2 SB

Chalk started out at the rookie level and hit very well in a dozen games.  The Padres moved him up to short season ball and he had more trouble.

2008
A:  275/354/340, 385 AB, 19 2B, 3 3B, 46 BB, 51 K, 19-21 SB

Hit fairly well in low A.  He showed good patience and base stealing ability.

2009
A+:  301/357/398, 525 AB, 21 2B, 12 3B, 2 HR,41 BB, 72 K, 33-41 SB

Chalk had his best year in the hitting-happy California League.  He continued to do well on the bases.

2010
A+:  191/248/234, 94 AB, 2 2B, 1 3B, 7 BB, 14 K, 1-1 SB
AA:  214/279/264, 201, 6 2B, 2 3B, 15 BB, 27 K, 2-6 SB
AAA:  313/375/388, 80 AB, 4 2B, 1 3B, 8 BB, 10 K, 2-4 SB

Played at three levels, with half his season coming in AA and the rest split between high A and AAA.  Oddly, he hit nothing at all except in AAA, with an OPS of .482 in high A, .542 in AA, and .763 in AAA.  For some reason, despite his speed, he largely stopped stealing bases.

2011
AA:  245/311/308, 266 AB, 7 2B, 5 3B, 26 BB, 45 K, 4-5 SB

Chalk opened the season as the regular right fielder for Altoona, but he eventually lost much of his playing time when Andrew Lambo got demoted from AAA.  After that he served as a fourth outfielder.  He normally batted at the bottom of the order and hit very little.

Chalk won’t be eligible for minor league free agency for a couple more years, so he’s likely to be back in 2012.  Altoona may not have much room in the outfield then, as Quincy Latimore could return to AA and both Robbie Grossman and Adalberto Santos should move up from Bradenton.  Chalk seems overmatched at the AA level, so there’s no reason for him to be more than a backup.
STATS
Baseball Reference–Minors
Fangraphs
MiLB.com
CONTRACT INFORMATION
2012: Minor League Contract
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus: $300,000
MiLB Debut: 7/20/2007
MLB Debut: N/A
MiLB FA Eligible: 2013
MLB FA Eligible: N/A
Rule 5 Eligible: Eligible
Added to 40-Man: N/A
Options Remaining: 3
MLB Service Time: 0.000
TRANSACTIONS
June 7, 2007: Drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 2nd round, 87th overall pick; signed on June 21.
December 9, 2010: Selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates from the San Diego Padres in the AAA phase of the Rule 5 draft.