Brendt Citta

WTM’s PLAYER PROFILE

2018
R+:  250/370/378, 156 AB, 12 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 22 BB, 33 K, 1-5 SB

Citta was the primary left fielder for Bristol.  He also played a few games in right.  He put up decent numbers, but for a 22-year old corner outfielder in a high-offense, advanced rookie league, the numbers weren’t that good.  His OPS was almost exactly league average.  He had no platoon split at all.

2019
R+:  262/385/446, 65 AB, 4 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 11 BB, 16 K, 2-3 SB
A-:  294/361/431, 109 AB, 8 2B, 2 2B, 1 HR, 8 BB, 22 K, 1-2 SB

The Pirates sent Citta back to Bristol to start the season and he hit with a little more power.  They promoted him to West Virginia in July.  He had a very good month of August, batting 313/405/438.  His overall numbers in the New York-Penn League were good in the context of a league where the average was 232/313/337.  It has to taken into account, though, that he was drafted out of college last year.  After the promotion, Citta split his time between right field and first base.  The latter could provide him with more opportunities going forward.

2020
DNP

2021
AA:  294/347/413, 160 AB, 9 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 10 BB, 36 K, 0-1 SB

The Pirates sent Citta to Altoona, a very big jump.  He handled it well, hitting for a good average but only modest power.  He mostly served as a DH, playing eight games at first and two in the outfield.  Unfortunately, because of leg injuries he played only eight games after July 4.

2022
AA:  226/323/343, 204 AB, 8 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 25 BB, 65 K, 1-3 SB
AAA:  257/331/431, 144 AB, 10 2B, 5 HR, 14 BB, 45 K

Citta opened the season at Indianapolis, but played very little and then spent May through July at Altoona.  He returned to AAA for the last two months.  He hit quite a bit better at the higher level, mainly due to a 299/377/508 showing in September.  His K rate was up sharply from prior years, so it’s possible he was trying to hit for more power.  He had no platoon split.  In the field, he played mostly at first.

Citta is likely to fill the same role in 2023.