Erik Forgione

ERIK FORGIONE, SHORTSTOP
Born: September 9, 1992
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 175
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Drafted: 25th Round, 761st Overall, 2014
How Acquired: Draft
College: University of Washington
Agent: N/A

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

Forgione was drafted by the Pirates in the 25th round and appears to be a glove-only player at shortstop, as he contributed little offensively in his three years at Washington.  In fact, he didn’t play regularly until his junior year.  He was one of the better defensive shortstops in college and could remain at the position, although that alone likely won’t get him far.  He has strong range and footwork, and a plus arm.  Forgione supposedly had strong speed out of high school, but the stolen base numbers in college suggest otherwise.  Despite being a junior, he signed not long after the draft.

2014
A-:  228/279/236, 127 AB, 1 2B, 6 BB, 22 K, 5-7 SB

Forgione split his time between short and second at Jamestown.  He hit about as expected, i.e., very little, with no power at all and not many walks.

2015
A-:  268/328/293, 123 AB, 3 2B, 8 BB, 25 K, 1-10 SB
A:  400/500/600, 10 AB, 1 3B, 2 BB, 2 K

Apart from filling in briefly a couple times with West Virginia in low A, Forgione spent the season again in the NYPL.  He played mostly at short, becoming the starter there in August when the Pirates promoted Kevin Newman to low A.  Forgione had some trouble with errors, committing nine in 32 games at the position.  He again hit very little.  He also was less than efficient as a base stealer, to put it mildly.

2016
A-:  231/302/336, 143 AB, 3 2B, 6 3B, 14 BB, 38 K, 12-15 SB

Forgione spent the season at Morgantown, where he got a lot of playing time due to injuries and the late-season promotion of Stephen Alemais.  He went on largely as before, playing well at short and not hitting a great deal.  He did do dramatically better as a base stealer.

Forgione transitioned quickly to organizational utility infielder.  He’ll probably continue to play that role somewhere in the lower half of the system in 2017.

CONTRACT INFORMATION
2017: Minor League Contract
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus: N/A
MiLB Debut: 2014
MLB Debut:
MiLB FA Eligible: 2020
MLB FA Eligible:
Rule 5 Eligible: 2017
Added to 40-Man:
Options Remaining: 3
MLB Service Time: 0.000
TRANSACTIONS
June 8, 2011: Drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the 33rd round, 1005th overall pick.
June 7, 2014:
Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 25th round, 761st overall pick; signed on June 16.