Jose Salazar

JOSE SALAZAR, SHORTSTOP
Born: July 11, 1994
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 174
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Signed: Int’l Free Agent, 2011, Pittsburgh Pirates
How Acquired: International Free Agent
Country: Venezuela
Agent: N/A

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

The Pirates signed Salazar when he was 16, but he’s never shown anything with the bat.  He seems to have good range in the field.  He started off as a shortstop, but has increasingly played other positions, primarily third and, most recently, first.

2011
VSL:  222/311/269, 167 AB, 5 2B, 1 HR, 17 BB, 26 K, 3-7 SB

Salazar played mostly shortstop in the VSL.  He did little at the plate.

2012
DSL:  207/267/228, 184 AB, 4 2B, 10 BB, 34 K, 1-5 SB

Salazar struggled even more at the plate in the DSL.  He played mostly third but saw some time at short.

2013
DSL:  227/350/273, 132 AB, 6 2B, 15 BB, 25 K, 1-3 SB

Salazar hit just marginally better.  His OBP was buoyed by 11 HBPs.  In the field, he mainly split his time between first and third.  (In the low minors, first base is often manned by non-prospects so the more promising players can stay at the more challenging positions.)

2014
R:  220/264/260, 50 AB, 2 2B, 2 BB, 11 K
R+:  291/345/327, 110 AB, 4 2B, 7 BB, 14 K, 1-1 SB

Salazar opened the season in the GCL, but the Pirates promoted him to Bristol after a month.  At both stops, he played mainly third, with a little time at first.  He didn’t hit at all in the GCL, but hit surprisingly well at Bristol, albeit with little power.

Salazar will probably continue to fill in at the lower levels.

CONTRACT INFORMATION
2015: Minor League Contract
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus: N/A
MiLB Debut: 2011
MLB Debut: N/A
MiLB FA Eligible: 2017
MLB FA Eligible: N/A
Rule 5 Eligible: 2015
Added to 40-Man: N/A
Options Remaining: 3
MLB Service Time: 0.000
TRANSACTIONS
April 9, 2011: Signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an international free agent.