Xavier Paul

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2003
R+:  307/384/489, 264 AB, 15 2B, 6 3B, 7 HR, 34 BB, 58 K, 11-15 SB 

Had strong debut in the advanced rookie Pioneer League, which is a tough assignment for an 18-year-old.  Baseball America ranked him as LA’s 7th best prospect after the season.  He ranked in the teens and twenties in subsequent years.

2004
A:  265/342/407, 460 AB, 26 2B, 6 3B, 9 HR, 54 BB, 124 K, 1-16 SB

Paul hit respectably as a 19-year-old in low A.  He struck out a lot, more than once every four ABs.

2005
A+:  247/328/392, 288 AB, 15 2B, 3 3B, 7 HR, 32 BB, 81 K, 1-6 SB 

Paul moved up to high A and regressed a little.  He also missed about a third of the season due to injury.  He continued to walk at a decent rate but to fan in over a quarter of his ABs.

2006
A+:  285/343/430, 470 AB, 23 2B, 3 3B, 13 HR, 38 BB, 114 K, 22-37 SB 

Returning to high A, Paul hit better and cut his K rate a little, but his walk rate also dropped.

2007
AA:  291/366/429, 422 AB, 22 2B, 2 3B, 11 HR, 48 BB, 112 K, 17-26 SB

In AA, Paul continued improving despite being in a pitchers’ environment.  He increased his walk rate but his K rate went up a little, too.

2008
AAA:  316/378/463, 443 AB, 28 2B, 5 3B, 9 HR, 43 BB, 96 K, 17-24 SB 

Paul hit very well in AAA, although the numbers have to be discounted some due to him being in a hitters’ park in a hitters’ league.  He cut his K rate to a little less than one every four and a half ABs.

2009
AAA:  328/378/500, 116 AB, 10 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 10 BB, 22 K, 8-10 SB
MLB:  214/313/500, 14 AB, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 BB, 4 K, 0-1 SB 

Got called up early in May, but went on the disabled list late in the month due to an infection and missed the rest of the season.

2010
AAA:  325/384/579, 228 AB, 20 2B, 1 3B, 12 HR, 18 BB, 41 K, 7-10 SB
MLB:  255/292/346, 121 AB, 8 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 8 BB, 24 K, 3-4 SB 

Spent a little under half of 2010 in AAA and had outstanding numbers, although Paul’s age (25) and the hitting environment have to be taken into account.  His plate discipline was just OK.  Paul played in the majors for much of May and all of July, starting semi-regularly and pinch-hitting.  He didn’t do terribly well.  He went 0-for-9 as a pinch hitter.

2011
MLB (LAD):  273/273/273, 11 AB, 5 K
MLB (Pgh):  254/293/349, 232 AB, 6 2B, 5 3B, 2 HR, 13 BB, 57 K, 16-22 SB 

Paul went 3-for-11 with the Dodgers before the Pirates picked him up on waivers.  He replaced John Bowker, which may be an indication of Clint Hurdle’s preference for speed and defense on the bench.  If so, it’s an ominous sign.  He ended up starting a quarter of the Pirates’ games, partly due to injuries and partly because Hurdle seemed to like having him in the lineup at times for some reason.  His hitting was nearly identical to 2009, including poor plate discipline.  He stole 16 bases in 22 tries.  Paul was one of the Pirates’ two main pinch hitters, the other being Matt Diaz, and he was utterly hopeless in the role, hitting 093/114/140, with 21 whiffs in 43 ABs.  He looked badly overmatched against hard-throwing late-inning relievers.  His PH OPS was lower than the collective OPS of the Pirates’ pitchers.  He also frequently appeared as a defensive sub in right.

Paul’s skill set almost exactly duplicates Alex Presley’s, except that he has a much stronger arm.  Since Presley hit very well and Paul has hit very little as a major leaguer, it’s difficult to see a place for him on the team.  His complete inability to pinch hit is especially harmful, because it’s a vital function for a fourth outfielder.  The Pirates desperately need to fill their backup outfield spots with players who can provide some offense, especially since their projected corner outfield starters, Presley and Jose Tabata, don’t figure to have much power.  If they need a speed-and-glove guy in the outfield, they can call up Gorkys Hernandez.  That’s evidently how they saw it, as they designated Paul for assignment in order to clear space for Rule 5-eligible prospects.  This is the second time he’s been waived, so he’ll be able to choose free agency.  Given the factors just mentioned, it seems likely he’d do that.