Matt Pagnozzi

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2003
A-:  178/302/237, 152 AB, 4 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 23 BB, 42 K, 3-5 SB

In short season ball, Pagnozzi had pretty much the same year at the plate he’d have every year through 2010.  He didn’t hit for average or power, and struck out a lot, nearly a quarter of his ABs.  He threw out 51% of base stealers.

2004
A:  209/277/265, 215 AB, 10 2B, 1 3B, 15 BB, 54 K, 4-5 SB

Again didn’t hit at all and struck out in a quarter of his ABs.  His high K rate has remained remarkably consistent throughout his career, despite the absence of any power.  He committed 18 passed balls, but that wasn’t a problem in later years.

2005
A+:  193/278/267, 187 AB, 11 2B, 1 HR, 20 BB, 49 K, 3-5 SB
AA:  139/225/167, 36 AB, 1 2B, 3 BB, 8 K

Hit below the Mendoza line in high A.  He got a late promotion to AA and hit .139.  He threw out 26% of base stealers in high A but none out of 16 in AA.

2006
A+:  216/283/328, 268 AB, 15 2B, 3 3B, 3 HR, 20 BB, 67 K, 0-1 SB

Returned to high A and managed to get above the Mendoza line, barely.  This time he threw out 47% of base stealers.

2007
AA:  209/261/279, 43 AB, 2 2B, 3 BB, 11 K
AAA:  220/275/305, 141 AB, 6 2B, 2 HR, 7 BB, 36 K, 1-1 SB

Got promoted to AAA after 13 games in AA.  He managed to top the Mendoza line slightly at both levels.  He threw out 28% of base stealers in AAA.

2008
AA:  236/294/324, 216 AB, 10 2B, 3 HR, 16 BB, 47 K, 2-3 SB
AAA:  200/429/400, 5 AB, 1 2B, 2 BB, 1 K

The Cards sent Pagnozzi back to AA and he had the same struggles at the plate as always.  His CS% was 40%.

2009
AAA:  221/299/308, 253 AB, 7 2B, 5 HR, 26 BB, 78 K, 0-1 SB
MLB:  000/250/000, 3 AB, 1 BB

Moved up to AAA and hit the same as ever.  His CS% was 24%.  He got called up when the Cards needed a backup catcher for the last week of the season.

2010
AAA:  242/338/309, 207 AB, 11 2B, 1 HR, 27 BB, 49 K
MLB:  359/405/487, 39 AB, 2 2B, 1 HR, 2 BB, 8 K

Hit the same as always in AAA.  He got into 15 games with the Cardinals, but was outrighted after the season and signed a minor league deal with Colorado.

2011
AAA (Colo):  275/337/421, 178 AB, 13 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 16 BB, 40 K, 0-2 SB
MLB (Colo):  286/348/286, 21 AB, 1 BB, 8 K
MLB (Pgh):  250/250/250, 8 AB, 2 BB

Playing in hitting-happy Colorado Springs in the hitting-happy Pacific Coast League, Pagnozzi put up non-horrible numbers for the first time in his career.  The .758 OPS seems pretty decent, but the Sky Sox’ team OPS was .855.  His OPS at home was .821.  On the road–and remember that the PCL is a hitters’ league even without Colorado Springs–his OPS was .696.  Pagnozzi still struck out once every four and a half ABs.  The Rockies called him up in June when they needed a backup catcher and he got into seven games.  After the Pirates acquired him, he played in five games.  He went 2-for-8 at bat and 2-for-8 in throwing out base stealers.

It’s very difficult to understand why the Pirates claimed Pagnozzi, given the need to put him on the 40-man roster, because numerous catchers with good gloves and at least as much hitting ability as him are signed every year to minor league deals.  In the end, they outrighted Pagnozzi to AAA after signing Rod Barajas and claiming Brian Jeroloman off waivers.  After running through so many catchers in 2011, the team obviously is concerned about catching depth, but Pagnozzi has no potential for being an answer to any needs, not even as AAA depth.