On Wednesday morning, outfielder Elvis Escobar joined the West Virginia Power roster and is in the starting lineup for game one of today’s doubleheader. Escobar played last season for Jamestown, where he hit .268/.293/.350 with nine stolen bases in 56 games. He can play center field, spent most of last season in right field and started today in left field. The 19-year-old was a high profile international signing of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2011, inking a deal for $570,000 and starting his career in the GCL last year, jumping right over the Dominican Summer League.
In this last off-season, Escobar played ten games in the Venezuelan Winter League, an impressive feat for someone of his age/experience, considering the league is mostly AAA and Major League players. Very few players without AA experience get in any time there, instead they play in the VWL version of the minor leagues.
Two other minor moves in the last couple days. Catcher Ralph Henriquez was added to the Altoona roster and Cody Eppley was transferred from Indianapolis to the Jamestown roster.