Socrates Brito

WTM’s PLAYER PROFILE

2010
DSL:  293/363/366, 82 AB, 4 2B, 1 3B, 9 BB, 15 K, 0-4 SB

Brito played only a little in his DSL debut, mostly in left, as he was subject to a 50-game suspension for PED use.

2011
R:  275/315/360, 236 AB, 3 2B, 7 3B, 1 HR, 13 BB, 50 K, 18-28 SB

The Diamondback employed Brito at all three outfield positions in the Arizona League, with about half his time in center.  He hit decently, but with poor plate discipline.  He ran a lot, but not effectively.  Baseball America rated him Arizona’s 30th best prospect after the season.

2012
R+:  312/357/444, 279 AB, 15 2B, 5 3B, 4 HR, 21 BB, 73 K, 15-24 SB

Arizona moved Brito up just to advanced rookie ball, playing him more in right than center.  His hitting improved, although his plate discipline remained bad.  BA ranked him 29th in the system.

2013
A:  264/313/356, 523 AB, 24 2B, 9 3B, 2 HR, 37 BB, 124 K, 27-36 SB

In full season ball, Brito again played more right than center.  He used his speed a lot more effectively on the bases, but didn’t do a great deal at the plate, with continued strike zone issues and little power.

2014
A+:  293/339/429, 518 AB, 30 2B, 5 3B, 10 HR, 36 BB, 109 K, 38-48 SB

Brito moved up a level and hit better, showing more power than previously.  One factor that probably helped him was playing in the California League.  He continued to improve as a base stealer.  BA ranked him 19th in the Arizona system.

2015
AA:  300/339/451, 490 AB, 17 2B, 15 3B, 9 HR, 29 BB, 84 K, 20-26 SB
MLB:  303/324/455, 33 AB, 3 2B, 1 3B, 1 BB, 7 K, 1-1 SB

Brito had a strong season in AA.  He still didn’t walk much and he produced mainly gap power, but he cut his K rate.  Arizona called him up in September and he handled major league pitching well in limited playing time.  BA rated him the D’backs’ 8th best prospect after the season.

2016
R:  143/143/143, 7 AB, 3 K
A+:  111/111/444, 9 AB, 1 HR, 2 K
AAA:  294/322/439, 303 AB, 10 2B, 8 3B, 6 HR, 13 BB, 60 K, 7-13 SB
MLB:  179/196/358, 95 AB, 3 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 2 BB, 23 K, 2-2 SB

Brito started the season in the majors, but struggled at the plate and was sent down in mid-month.  He returned in late June, but after two games went out for over a month with a fractured toe.  He spent part of August and all of September back in the majors.  He didn’t hit all that well in AAA, especially considering that he was in the Pacific Coast League; a lack of patience continued to be an issue.  In the majors, he showed some power but no patience at all.  Brito split his time between center and right at both levels.  BA still ranked him 4th in the system, but it was one of MLB’s weakest systems.

2017
AAA:  291/336/449, 292 AB, 15 2B, 8 3B, 5 HR, 22 BB, 64 K, 6-7 SB

Brito missed the start of the season with a dislocated finger.  He went on rehab in late May and was optioned to AAA in mid-June.  The D’backs kept him in AAA all year, not even calling him up in September.  His hitting numbers were nearly identical to the previous season.  BA rated him 19th in the system after the season.

2018
AAA:  318/383/540, 428 AB, 34 2B, 5 3B, 17 HR, 44 BB, 104 K, 15-19 SB
MLB:  175/227/250, 40 AB, 1 HR, 3 BB, 9 K, 0-1 SB

Arizona evidently secured a fourth option for Brito and sent him to AAA to start the season.  While there, he finally started showing over-the-fence power, possibly because he also finally started taking some pitches.  He got a brief callup in May and returned to the majors in September.  He again struggled there.

2019
AAA:  282/328/510, 394 AB, 28 2B, 7 3B, 16 HR, 29 BB, 97 K, 11-18 SB
MLB:  077/163/128, 39 AB, 1 3B, 4 BB, 17 K

Arizona put Brito on waivers late in spring training and San Diego claimed him, but the Padres desgnated him for assignment a few days later and then traded him to Toronto.  He stayed in the majors until the second week of May, when the Jays outrighted him to AAA.  He didn’t hit at all in limited time with the Jays, but continued to show improved power in AAA.  Of course, power was dramatically up in the International League in 2019 due to a more lively ball.  Brito became a free agent after the season and signed a minor league deal with the Pirates.

Brito will probably serve as outfield depth in AAA.  Given the Pirates’ lack of outfield depth, though, it’s not improbable that he could see some time in the majors.