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DWIGHT CHILDS
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CATCHER
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Born: July 23, 1988 Height: 6’2″ Weight: 190 Bats: Right Throws: Right Drafted: 18th round, 545th overall, 2009 (Indians) How Acquired: Contract purchased from ind. lg. team College: University of Arizona Agent: N/A |
WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES |
| Childs got on the draft map by hitting 331/385/529 in his last year at Arizona, but he’d struggled at the plate before that. His defense was considered his strong point, specifically good pitch blocking and a strong arm. The Indians nevertheless used him strictly to fill in at the lower levels. He got into just 46 games in his first three years and only 90 total in four years with them. He then spent two years in independent ball. He hasn’t done much at the plate beyond showing a little power, but he’s thrown out 32% of base stealers between the minors and indy ball. The Pirates purchased his contract from the New Jersey Jackals of the Can-Am League.
2009 Childs got into 13 games behind the plate in the New York-Penn League. He obviously didn’t hit at all. 2010 The Indians obviously wrote Childs off as an organizational player right from the start. He caught 16 games in low A in addition to one (plus one at first base) in rookie ball. He did throw out an impressive 12 of 21 base stealers. 2011 Childs got into 11 games (two at first) in low A, as well as one as a fill-in at AAA. He hit well in his brief playing time. 2012 The Indians actually gave Childs some playing time in high A. He caught 42 games and threw out 26% of base stealers, but was overmatched at the plate. 2013 Cleveland released Childs at the end of spring training and he caught on with the St. Paul Saints of the independent American Association. He showed decent power, but had a bad strikeout to walk ratio. He threw out 46% of base stealers. 2014 Childs returned to St. Paul and struggled at the plate. New Jersey acquired him late in the year and he played his last nine games with the Jackals. Overall, his CS% was 47%. Childs figures to be an organizational player with the Pirates and will probably spend most of his time catching in extended spring training. He isn’t likely to play much except in the event of injuries. |
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STATS
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| Baseball Reference–Minors Fangraphs MiLB.com |
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CONTRACT INFORMATION
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| 2015: Minor league contract |
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PLAYER INFORMATION
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| Signing Bonus: N/A MiLB Debut: 2009 MLB Debut: N/A MiLB FA Eligible: 2015 MLB FA Eligible: N/A Rule 5 Eligible: Eligible Added to 40-Man: N/A Options Remaining: 3 MLB Service Time: 0.000 |
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TRANSACTIONS
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| June 10, 2009: Drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 18th round, 545th overall pick; signed on June 22. March 27, 2013: Released by the Cleveland Indians. January 30, 2015: Contract purchased by the Pittsburgh Pirates from the independent New Jersey Jackals. |
