Jairo Marquez

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2007
VSL:  339/419/466, 189 AB, 10 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 20 BB, 15 K, 2-4 SB 

Marquez signed a little later than most Latin American prospects but got off to a great start in the VSL, hitting for average and power, and walking more than he fanned.  He split his time about evenly between catcher, first and DH, and threw out nine of 18 base stealers.

2008
VSL:  247/343/351, 174 AB, 9 2B, 3 HR, 22 BB, 14 K, 4-7 SB 

Went back to the VSL and didn’t have the same year, although he still showed a good eye.  He again played a lot at first, but he caught 29 games.  He threw out only 8 of 36 potential base stealers.

2009
R:  281/330/396, 96 AB, 6 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 6 BB, 11 K, 3-5 SB 

Marquez hit well in the GCL, although he was a little old for league and only played in 29 games.  He caught in only ten games and split the others between first and DH.

2010
A-:  167/286/167, 6 AB, 1 BB, 1 K
A:  293/318/476, 76 AB, 7 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 1 BB, 10 K 

Started in extended spring training, played briefly for State College, then moved up to West Virginia when Pat Irvine flopped as the backup catcher there.  Marquez hit very well in the limited playing time he got behind Ramon Cabrera.  He threw out 32% of the runners who tried to steal on him.

2011
A:  295/354/386, 44 AB, 4 2B, 4 BB, 7 K
A+:  211/279/237, 38 AB, 1 2B, 4 BB, 3 K 

Marquez spent his time as an “extra” catcher in class A, appearing in 16 games for West Virginia and 14 for Bradenton.  Some of the time he wasn’t on the active roster.  Both teams were trying to find playing time for a pair of good catchers, Cabrera and Carlos Paulino at Bradenton, and Elias Diaz and Kawika Emsley-Pai at West Virginia.  Marquez probably was needed to warm up pitchers when the other two catchers were both in the game.

It’d be interesting to see what Marquez could do with more playing time.  He’s hit well in a very small sample size at low A and his defense at least seems decent.  In any event, he’ll probably return in the same role in 2012.