Exicardo Cayonez

EXICARDO CAYONEZ
CORNER OUTFIELDER
Born: October 9, 1991
Height: 6′ 0″
Weight: 183
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Signed: Int. FA, Pittsburgh Pirates, 2008
How Acquired: Int. FA
Country: Venezuela
Agent: N/A

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

Cayones was the Pirates’ most high-profile international signing in 2008 and, excluding Cuban defectors, his bonus of $400,000 was the largest the team had handed out in Latin America prior to Luis Heredia. Baseball America has referred to his advanced approach to hitting, although it’s uncertain whether he’ll hit for power.  So far, he’s played left field almost exclusively.

2009
VSL:  302/396/424, 205, 18 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 23 BB, 30 K, 4-10 SB

Hit well in his VSL debut, commanding the strike zone well and hitting doubles.

2010
R:  263/369/362, 152 AB, 11 2B, 2 3B, 15 BB, 34 K, 7-12 SB

Got off to strong start, culminating in a 7-for-7 performance in a July doubleheader that vaulted his BA over .400.  Unfortunately, he slumped from there, batting only .133 in August.  Struggled with LHPs, batting only .200 against them while hitting .290 against RHPs.

2011
R:  293/389/427, 82 AB, 5 2B, 3 3B, 11 BB, 21 K, 2-5 SB
A-:  063/189/063, 32 AB, 4 BB, 13 K, 1-1 SB

Opened at State College and was badly overmatched, managing just two singles in 32 ABs, while fanning 13 times.  The Pirates demoted him to the GCL, where he continued to struggle initially, batting .179 in nine July games.  He finally got hot in August, hitting .352.  The Pirates seemed to keep him away from LHPs; he got only ten ABs against them.  He didn’t show much speed, with just three steals in six tries at the two levels.

Cayones’ stock has probably taken a hit, but hopefully his hitting in August 2011 showed he’s made some adjustments.  He’ll play 2012 at age 20, most likely back at State College.

STATS
Baseball Reference–Minors
Fangraphs
MiLB.com
CONTRACT INFORMATION
2012: Minor League Contract
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus: $400,000
MiLB Debut: 5/18/2009
MLB Debut: N/A
MiLB FA Eligible: 2015
MLB FA Eligible: N/A
Rule 5 Eligible: 2012
Added to 40-Man: N/A
Options Remaining: 3
MLB Service Time: 0.000
TRANSACTIONS
July 24, 2008: Signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an international free agent.