Josh Palacios

WTM’s PLAYER PROFILE

2016
R:  265/321/327, 49 AB, 3 2B, 3 BB, 6 K, 4-5 SB
A-:  355/437/473, 110 AB, 7 2B, 3 3B, 14 BB, 17 K, 4-6 SB
A:  342/375/421, 38 AB, 3 2B, 1 BB, 3 K, 0-2 SB

Palacios split his time at three levels after signing and made good contact, hitting for high averages without over-the-fence power.  He saw time in center and right.  Baseball America ranked him 19th in the Jays’ system after the season.

2017
A:  280/360/361, 368 AB, 18 2B, 3 3B, 2 HR, 42 BB, 78 K, 12-18 SB

The Jays kept Palacios in low A for the season, using him at all three outfield positions.  He hit for a solid average with good plate discipline, but didn’t show much power.  He was probably hampered by playing through a hand injury.  BA ranked him 30th in the system.

2018
A+:  292/357/418, 507 AB, 30 2B, 5 3B, 8 HR, 47 BB, 125 K, 15-24 SB
AA:  000/000/000, 3 AB, 2 K

Except for one game, Palacios spent the season in the Florida State League.  He mostly played center and had a solid season at the plate in the pitching-dominated league.  His walk and K rates did take negative turns.

2019
AA:  266/371/416, 286 AB, 18 2B, 2 3B, 7 HR, 45 BB, 70 K, 15-20 SB

Palacios spent the season in AA, although he was out from mid-April through the end of May.  He put up solid numbers, mainly on the strength of a .345 average in July.  His plate discipline shifted back to his earlier, good numbers.  He played all three outfield positions.

2020
DNP

The Jays kept Palacios on their taxi squad during the pandemic season, but he didn’t see action anywhere.  The Jays added him to their 40-man roster after the season.

2021
R:  500/750/750, 4 AB, 1 2B, 4 BB, 0-1 SB
A:  1.000/1.000/1.000, 2 AB, 0-1 SB
AAA:  241/349/278, 54 AB, 2 2B, 5 BB, 16 K, 1-3 SB
MLB:  200/293/200, 35 AB, 3 BB, 11 K

Palacios made his major league debut in April, but a hand injury cost him most of the season.

2022
AAA (Tor):  238/333/524, 21 AB, 2 HR, 2 BB, 5 K, 2-3 SB
AAA (Wash):  298/382/433, 275 AB, 12 2B, 2 3B, 7 HR, 33 BB, 50 K, 19-26 SB
MLB (Wash):  213/245/255, 47 AB, 2 2B, 1 BB, 15 K, 1-1 SB

Toronto designated Palacios for assignment early in the season and the Nationals claimed him.  He played for them in AAA, then got called up in early August.  Apart from a brief trip back to AAA, he spent the rest of the season in the majors.  He hit well in AAA, including passable power and a good walk rate.  He didn’t hit in limited chances with Washington.  After the season, the Nationals outrighted him and the Pirates selected him in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft.

The Pirates essentially exchanged Jared Oliva, whom they lost in the same phase of Rule 5, for Palacios.  They’re very similar players.  Both figured to be upper level depth and possible fourth outfielders.  Palacios opened the season at Altoona, but was moved up to Indianapolis early on.  He got blistering hot there and the Pirates called him up in May.