Chris Bostick

CHRIS BOSTICK, SECOND BASEMAN
Born: March 24, 1993
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 190
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Drafted: 44th Round, 1336th Overall, 2011 (Athletics)
How Acquired: Trade (with Nationals for Taylor Gushue and cash)
High School: Aquinas Institute, Rochester, NY
Agent: N/A

WTM’s PLAYER PROFILE

Bostick is an infielder with a good bat, including some pop thanks to good bat speed.  He runs fairly well, although his SB rates haven’t always been good.  He’s played a little at short, but mainly he’s been a second baseman.  He’s spent some time at third and in left recently.  The Pirates acquired him after Washington designated him for assignment.

2011
R:  442/482/654, 52 AB, 6 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 3 BB, 12 K, 4-4 SB

Bostick got into just 14 games after signing in late July, splitting his time between short and second.  He got off to a very good start with the bat.  Baseball America ranked him as Oakland’s 24th best prospect after the season.

2012
A-:  251/325/369, 279 AB, 16 2B, 4 3B, 3 HR, 27 BB, 66 K, 12-17 SB

The A’s sent Bostick to the New York-Penn League, where he played second regularly, with just ten games at short.  His hitting fell off and he struck out once every four ABs.  BA ranked him 20th in the Oakland system after the season.

2013
A:  282/354/452, 489 AB, 25 2B, 8 3B, 14 HR, 51 BB, 122 K, 25-33 SB

Bostick spent the season in low A, playing second exclusively.  His hitting up quite a bit, especially his power.  He was helped by a home park that’s conducive to the longball; he hit 12 of his 14 HRs there.  BA ranked him 18th in the Oakland system after the season, but the A’s traded him to Texas.

2014
A+:  251/322/412, 495 AB, 31 2B, 8 3B, 11 HR, 47 BB, 116 K, 21-35 SB

Texas sent Bostick to high A for the year.  He showed some power, but hit just OK overall.  He again played second exclusively.  After the season, he got traded again, this time to Washington.

2015
A+:  274/344/393, 234 AB, 10 2B, 3 3B, 4 HR, 19 BB, 44 K, 15-18 SB
AA:  247/286/402, 296 AB, 12 2B, 5 3B, 8 HR, 12 BB, 56 K, 16-21 SB

The Nationals sent Bostick back to high A and he hit for a little more average and a little less power.  At mid-season, Washington moved Bostick up to AA and he hit for some power, but saw his walk rate and OBP drop.  He played mostly second at both levels, but also played 20 games in left and a few at short and in center.  Washington added Bostick to their 40-man roster after the season.  BA rated him 25th among Nationals’ prospects.

2016
AA:  290/356/462, 262 AB, 11 2B, 8 3B, 6 HR, 25 BB, 58 K, 8-16 SB
AAA:  203/261/297, 222 AB, 11 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 16 BB, 67 K, 3-5 SB

Back in AA, Bostick rebounded well, hitting for power and average.  After a mid-season promotion to AAA, though, he struggled at the plate.  In the field, Bostick played mostly second, with a little time at third and in left.  Washington designated him for assignment and then traded him to the Pirates with a week left in the major league season.  The Pirates added him to their 40-man roster but did not call him up.

2017
AAA:  294/362/418, 486 AB, 33 2B, 3 3B, 7 HR, 45 BB, 97 K, 8-17 SB
MLB:  296/406/370, 27 AB, 2 2B, 4 BB, 9 K, 0-1 SB

Bostick spent most of the season at Indianapolis, where he started 80 games in the outfield, divided among all three positions, as well as 27 at second and six at third.  He got off to a good start, posting a .910 OPS in April.  He eventually cooled off in June and July, but finished the season well.  Overall, he hit for good gap power and improved his walk and K rates.  He had a small reverse platoon split.  The Pirates called Bostick up briefly in May, but he got just four plate appearances.  He came back up in early September, but played little until he got three starts late in the month as Clint Hurdle was determined to get as much playing time as possible for his veterans.  Bostick’s starts all came at second.

The Pirates’ use of Bostick primarily in the outfield in AAA was odd, as he has a good bat for an infielder but maybe not for an outfielder.  He provides good depth and has another option left.

UPDATE:  Bostick had a good year in AAA, but the Pirates continued to show little interest in him and designated him for assignment in early August when they claimed Buddy Boshers.  They had much less useful players on the roster, like Tanner Anderson and Alex McRae, or they simply could have released Sean Rodriguez.  Bostick almost certainly will get claimed off waivers, which was very unlikely to happen with Anderson or McRae.

CONTRACT INFORMATION
2018: Major league minimum
2017:
Major league minimum
2016:
Major league minimum
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus: $125,000
MiLB Debut: 2011
MLB Debut: 5/8/2017
MiLB FA Eligible: N/A
MLB FA Eligible: 2023
Rule 5 Eligible: Protected
Added to 40-Man: 11/19/2015
Options Remaining: 0 (USED: 2016, 2017, 2018)
MLB Service Time: 0.034
TRANSACTIONS
June 8, 2011: Drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 44th round, 1336th overall pick; signed on July 28.
December 3, 2013: Traded by the Oakland Athletics with Michael Choice to the Texas Rangers for Craig Gentry and Josh Lindblom.
December 11, 2014: Traded by the Texas Rangers with Abel De Los Santos to the Washington Nationals for Ross Detwiler.
November 19, 2015: Contract purchased by the Washington Nationals.
September 18, 2016: Designated for assignment by the Washington Nationals.
September 26, 2016: Traded by the Washington Nationals to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Taylor Gushue and cash.