Ashley Ponce

ASHLEY PONCE
SHORTSTOP
 Born: January 22, 1991
Height: 5′ 11″
Weight: 140
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Signed: Int. FA, Pittsburgh Pirates, 2008
Country: Panama
Agent: N/A

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

Ponce is a slightly built infielder with strong defensive abilities, including good range.  He’s patient at the plate and generally puts the bat on the ball, but he hasn’t hit the ball with much authority.

2009
VSL:  268/354/343, 213 AB, 13 2B, 1 HR, 23 BB, 30 K, 14-21 SB

Ponce played second and third in the VSL and showed a good eye at the plate.

2010
VSL:  268/350/312, 157 AB, 7 2B, 18 BB, 17 K, 10-15 SB

Back in the VSL, he had almost the exact same season at the plate, except he hit for less power.  He walked more than he struck out.  He served as the team’s regular shortstop.

2011
R:  296/457/296, 27 AB, 6 BB, 5 K
A-:  177/282/211, 147 AB, 5 2B, 15 BB, 18 K, 7-8 SB

Opened the season in the GCL, but moved up to State College when 2011 draftee Brian Sharp abruptly retired.  He didn’t hit much in the New York-Penn League, but continued to show a good eye.  He was the Spikes’ regular at short for the second half of their season, even though another 2011 draftee, Kirk Singer, was known primarily as a glove guy.  That’s an indication that the Pirates think highly of Ponce’s defense.

2012
A:  192/259/233, 172 AB, 4 2B, 1 HR, 13 BB, 21 K, 2-6 SB

Ponce moved up to West Virginia from extended spring training when Kirk Singer was promoted to Bradenton.  He initially replaced Singer at third, then later played some at short when Alen Hanson was hurt.  He also backed up Dan Gamache at second.  He managed a .629 OPS in July when he played every day, but in the other months, when he was more of a backup, his OPS figures were .315, .350 and .472.  His defensive play, along with that of Francisco Aponte, may have helped stabilize a very shaky pitching staff in the second half of the season.

2013
A:  244/322/354, 127 AB, 8 2B, 3 3B, 13 BB, 15 K, 4-5 SB
A+:  235/267/259, 81 AB, 2 2B, 3 BB, 16 K, 1-1 SB

Ponce started the season as a utility player with West Virginia, then moved up to Bradenton in July.  At West Virginia he backed up in the middle infield.  At Bradenton he played mostly third, especially after Gift Ngoepe was sent down from AA.  Ponce hit respectably in low A, not so much in high A.

2014
A:  320/469/400, 25 AB, 2 2B, 5 BB, 3 K, 1-2 SB
A+:  158/259/183, 120 AB, 1 2B, 1 3B, 16 BB, 17 K, 2-3 SB

Ponce opened the season in a utility role with Bradenton.  He went out for nearly a month at the end of May, then went to West Virginia for about a week when he returned before moving back up to Bradenton.  With Adam Frazier and Max Moroff in the middle infield, Ponce got only limited playing time.  Other than drawing walks, he did nothing on offense.

Ponce will probably return as a utility player again in 2015.  He could see time in AA at some point.

STATS
Baseball Reference–Minors
Fangraphs
MiLB.com
CONTRACT INFORMATION
2015: Minor League Contract
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus: N/A
MiLB Debut: 2009
MLB Debut: N/A
MiLB FA Eligible: 2015
MLB FA Eligible: N/A
Rule 5 Eligible: Eligible
Added to 40-Man: N/A
Options Remaining: 3
MLB Service Time: 0.000
TRANSACTIONS
November 17, 2008: Signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an international free agent.