Darnell Sweeney

WTM’s PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2012
R+:  303/380/379, 66 AB, 1 2B, 2 3B, 9 BB, 8 K, 10-12 SB
A:  291/372/447, 199 AB, 8 2B, 4 3B, 5 HR, 24 BB, 41 K, 17-21 SB

The Dodgers sent Sweeney initially to advanced rookie ball, but soon moved him up to low A.  He hit well, showing solid power and stealing a lot of bases.  He played mostly at short.  Baseball America rated him 31st in the Dodgers’ system after the season.

2013
A+:  275/329/455, 552 AB, 34 2B, 16 3B, 11 HR, 43 BB, 151 K, 48-68 SB

Sweeney hit well, with solid power again, in high A.  It was, however, the high-offense California League.  He had trouble with strikeouts and, although he stole a lot of bases, got thrown out a lot.  He played mostly short, but was erratic, with 34 errors in 108 games.  BA rated him 24th in an increasingly good Dodgers’ system.

2014
AA:  288/387/463, 490 AB, 34 2B, 5 3B, 14 HR, 77 BB, 117 K, 15-31 SB

Sweeney had another strong season in a less favorable environment in AA.  He continued hitting for power while sharply increasing his walk rate and cutting his K rate.  He spent the majority of his time at second while also seeing time at short and in center.  BA ranked him 16th in the Dodgers’ system.

2015
AAA (LAD):  271/332/409, 472 AB, 30 2B, 4 3B, 9 HR, 42 BB, 116 K, 32-45 SB
MLB (Phi):  176/286/353, 85 AB, 4 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 13 BB, 27 K, 0-2 SB

In AAA, Sweeney didn’t hit as well as he had previously.  In August, the Dodgers sent him to the Phillies in the waiver trade for Chase Utley.  The Phillies immediately called him up and he spent the rest of the season with them.  In the minors, Sweeney alternated between second and center, with a little time in left.  With the Phillies he played mostly second and left.  BA rated him 26th in the Phillies’ system.

2016
AAA:  233/299/345, 400 AB, 17 2B, 5 3B, 6 HR, 38 BB, 100 K, 12-23 SB

Sweeney spent the season in AAA and took a big step backwards, struggling to hit all year.  The Phillies used him mainly at second and third, and in center.  In September, they outrighted him to AAA.  After the season, the Phillies sent Sweeney back to the Dodgers in a trade for Howie Kendrick.

2017
AAA (LAD):  227/290/412, 119 AB, 8 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 11 BB, 33 K, 7-8 SB
AAA (Cinn):  281/355/420, 324 AB, 18 2B, 3 3B, 7 HR, 35 BB, 76 K, 11-24 SB

Sweeney played in AAA for the Dodgers and continued to struggle at the plate, but in May they sent him to the Reds for cash.  He spent the rest of the season in AAA with them and recovered somewhat.  He played all over the field.

2018
AAA:  236/311/411, 292 AB, 13 2B, 4 3B, 10 HR, 31 BB, 113 K, 6-11 SB
MLB:  000/500/000, 2 AB, 2 BB

The Reds released Sweeney at the end of spring training and Toronto signed him a few days later.  He spent most of the season in AAA, but got a couple of callups.  Both times he was outrighted after a few days.  He opted for free agency after the season.

2019
IND:  388/430/538, 80 AB, 8 2B, 4 HR, 17 BB, 28 K, 6-7 SB
AA:  196/255/373, 51 AB, 3 2B, 2 HR, 4 BB, 22 K, 0-2 SB
AAA:  225/281/360, 89 AB, 4 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 5 BB, 35 K, 2-3 SB

Sweeney ended up with Kansas City of the independent American Association.  He hit very well there before the Pirates signed him in mid-June.  They did so because injuries to Ke’Bryan Hayes and Pablo Reyes left them short-handed at Indianapolis.  He ended up seeing time at both Altoona and Indianapolis, mostly playing in the outfield but also at second, third and short.  He even pitched twice for Indianapolis.

Sweeney will be a free agent in the fall.