Elys Escobar

ELYS ESCOBAR, CATCHER
Born: September 21, 1996
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 190
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Signed: Int’l Free Agent, 2013, Detroit Tigers
How Acquired: Trade (from Tigers)
Country: Venezuela
Agent: N/A

WTM’s PLAYER PROFILE

The Tigers signed Escobar at age 16 out of Venezuela.  He seems to have settled into an organizational role after three years.  The Pirates acquired him shortly before the 2019 season.

2014
VSL:  297/362/398, 118 AB, 10 2B, 1 3B, 10 BB, 22 K, 2-2 SB

Escobar hit well as a 17-year-old in the VSL.  He also threw out 42% of base stealers.

2015
VSL:  280/364/376, 189 AB, 13 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 25 BB, 32 K

The Tigers sent Escobar back to the VSL and he hit about the same as the previous year.

2016
R:  252/303/311, 135 AB, 8 2B, 9 BB, 23 K

Escobar moved up to the Gulf Coast League and his hitting slipped, especially his power.

2017
A-:  255/339/373, 51 AB, 3 2B, 1 HR, 7 BB, 14 K, 2-2 SB
A+:  333/429/500, 6 AB, 1 2B, 1 BB, 2 K

The Tigers appear to have used Escobar just to fill in at a couple of levels.  He did throw out seven of 14 base stealers.

2018
R:  273/360/364, 44 AB, 1 2B, 1 HR, 6 BB, 14 K, 0-1 SB
A+:  143/333/143, 7 AB, 1 BB, 5 K

Escobar again played just briefly, split between two levels.

2019
A-:  188/291/304, 69 AB, 5 2B, 1 HR, 9 BB, 24 K, 0-1 SB

Escobar was a backup catcher at West Virginia, getting a little more playing time in that role than Ryan Haug.  He obviously didn’t hit much, but threw out 37% of base stealers.

Escobar will continue to provide catching depth in the low minors.

CONTRACT INFORMATION
2020: Minor League Contract
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus: N/A
MiLB Debut: 2015
MLB Debut: N/A
MiLB FA Eligible: 2021
MLB FA Eligible: N/A
Rule 5 Eligible: 2018
Added to 40-Man: N/A
Options Remaining: 3
MLB Service Time: 0.000
TRANSACTIONS
July 2, 2013: Signed by the Detroit Tigers as an international free agent.
March 22, 2019: Traded by the Detroit Tigers to the Pittsburgh Pirates for future considerations.