Devin Ivany

DEVIN IVANY
CATCHER
Born: July 27, 1982
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 185
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Drafted: 6th Round, 174th overall, 2004 (Expos)
How acquired: Minor League Free Agent
High School: University of South Florida
Agent: N/A

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

Ivany was one of the last links for the Nationals to the Expos, the team that drafted him.  He looked like a decent prospect for about two years, in 2005-06, but his bat didn’t hold up.  He ended up as an organizational catcher for the Nats, staying with them for nine years.  He’s a good defensive catcher who receives well and has a solid arm.

2004
A-:  125/143/125, 48 AB, 1 BB, 5 K, 0-1 SB
A:  170/239/208, 106 AB, 4 2B, 8 BB, 21 K, 2-2 SB

Ivany opened in short season ball after signing, but the Expos soon promoted him to low A.  Obviously, he didn’t hit at all.

2005
A:  262/315/428, 409 AB, 27 2B, 1 3B, 13 HR, 25 BB, 65 K, 7-14 SB

The team, now the Nationals, sent Ivany back to low A and he had a solid season at the plate, including decent power, while throwing out 39% of opposing base stealers.  After the season, Baseball America ranked him as the 19th best prospect in a system that was desperately thin at that point.

2006
A:  262/311/359, 446 AB, 19 2B, 3 3B, 6 HR, 25 BB, 64 K, 12-15 SB

Ivany had almost exactly the same season in high A, except most of his power went away.

2007
R:  333/500/333, 3 AB, 1 BB, 2 K
A:  167/333/250, 12 AB, 1 2B, 3 BB, 1 K, 1-1 SB
A+:  275/313/427, 131 AB, 5 2B, 5 HR, 7 BB, 26 K, 4-6 SB
AA:  178/244/233, 73 AB, 4 2B, 7 BB, 21 K, 1-2 SB

Ivany started the season in AA, but struggled and was sent to extended spring training.  He eventually worked his way back up to high A.

2008
A+:  250/318/400, 40 AB, 3 2B, 1 HR, 4 BB, 8 K
AA:  262/327/442, 206 AB, 9 2B, 2 3B, 8 HR, 16 BB, 50 K, 4-7 SB

Spending most of the season catching part-time in AA, Ivany had one of his better hitting years.

2009
A+:  269/360/474, 171 AB, 14 2B, 7 HR, 25 BB, 30 K, 2-6 SB

Despite his good showing in AA the previous year, the Nationals sent Ivany to high A, where he served as the backup catcher and hit very well against less experienced competition.

2010
AA:  289/388/470, 83 AB, 3 2B, 4 HR, 12 BB, 27 K, 1-2 SB
AAA:  197/269/299, 137 AB, 7 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 15 BB, 36 K, 5-7 SB

Ivany finally got a shot at AAA, although he didn’t hit there.

2011
AA:  231/292/340, 156 AB, 8 2B, 3 HR, 12 BB, 36 K, 3-7 SB

Ivany settled in as the backup catcher at AA Harrisburg and declined at the plate.

2012
AA:  212/266/333, 156 AB, 6 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 10 BB, 28 K, 1-1 SB

Back at Harrisburg, Ivany’s hitting declined some more.  The Nationals released him near the end of the season.

2013
A+:  429/500/429, 7 AB

Ivany wasn’t on any roster at the start of the season and didn’t appear in any games until the very end of the season, when he played in two games for Bradenton.  I’m not sure whether he was hurt or simply helping out in extended spring training.

Ivany will probably move on in 2014.

STATS
Baseball Reference–Minors
Fangraphs
MiLB.com
CONTRACT INFORMATION
2013: Minor league contract
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus: $160,000
MiLB Debut: 2004
MLB Debut: N/A
MiLB FA Eligible: 2013
MLB FA Eligible: 2019
Rule 5 Eligible: Eligible
Added to 40-Man: N/A
Options Remaining: 3
MLB Service Time: 0.000
TRANSACTIONS
June 5, 2001: Drafted by the Anaheim Angels in the 9th round, 269th overall pick.
June 7, 2004:
 Drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 6th round, 174th overall pick; signed on June 23.
November 6, 2010: Became a free agent.
January 28, 2011: Signed as a minor league free agent with the Washington Nationals.
November 2, 2011: Became a free agent.
January 6, 2012: Signed as a minor league free agent with the Washington Nationals.
August 14, 2012: Released by the Washington Nationals.
Febuary 7, 2013: Signed as a minor league free agent with the Pittsburgh Pirates.