Engelb Vielma

WTM’S PLAYER PROFILE

2012
DSL:  268/354/331, 157 AB, 4 2B, 3 3B, 18 BB, 27 K, 16-21 SB

Vielma played mostly short in the DSL and hit reasonably well for an 18-year-old.

2013
R:  237/320/260, 131 AB, 3 2B, 15 BB, 23 K, 7-10 SB
R+:  217/308/217, 23 AB, 1 BB, 7 K, 1-1 SB

Vielma spent the season in the Gulf Coast League, apart from a late season promotion to the Appalachian League.  Apart from solid plate discipline, he didn’t do much at the plate and, in particular, showed no power at all.

2014
A:  266/313/323, 418 AB, 13 2B, 4 3B, 1 HR, 28 BB, 71 K, 10-16 SB

The Twins moved Vielma up to full season ball and he hit for a solid average, but with no power.  His walk rate also dropped quite a bit.  Baseball America ranked him 22nd in the Twins’ system after the season.

2015
A+:  270/321/306, 441 AB, 9 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 35 BB, 71 K, 35-47 SB

Vielma spent the season in high A and again hit for a solid average with no power and a walk total that was probably limited by pitchers not being hesitant to challenge him.  He had a much higher stolen base total than in any other season.  BA ranked him 18th in Minnesota’s system after the season.

2016
A+:  200/333/200, 25 AB, 5 BB, 8 K, 2-2 SB
AA:  271/345/318, 314 AB, 7 2B, 4 3B, 34 BB, 62 K, 10-18 SB

At AA, Vielma had largely the same season as the previous two, except for an improved walk rate.  He missed the month of May with an injury and rehabbed in high A.  BA ranked him 25th in the Twins’ system and they added him to the 40-man roster after the season.

2017
AA:  286/362/328, 119 AB, 5 2B, 14 BB, 13 K, 1-4 SB
AAA:  206/233/260, 296 AB, 12 2B, 2 3B, 11 BB, 72 K, 2-7 SB

The Twins sent Vielma to AA at the start of the season, then moved him up to AAA in mid-May.  He hit about the same as the previous year in AA, with continued improvement in his plate discipline.  In AAA he struggled badly, with a high K rate for the first time in his career and very few walks.  The Twins removed him from their 40-man roster in September and San Francisco claimed him.  After the season, the Giants also designated him for assignment and the Phillies claimed him.  The Phillies than dfa’d him three weeks later and the Pirates claimed him.

Vielma will probably serve as a glove-only utility infielder, replacing Gift Ngoepe in that role.  It’s hard to see what need the Pirates have, though, as they’ll have Kevin Newman at short at Indianapolis in 2018, and Max Moroff also available.  They’ll also have Cole Tucker in AA.  It’s quite likely that they’ll try to get Vielma through waivers.

UPDATE:  The Pirates designated Vielma for assignment to clear roster space after the Gerrit Cole trade.