Jose Batista

JOSE BATISTA, LEFT HANDED PITCHER
Born: February 1, 1996
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 175
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Signed: Int’l Free Agent, 2013, Pittsburgh Pirates
How Acquired: International Free Agent
Country: Dominican Republic
Agent: N/A

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES
The Pirates signed Batista close to his 17th birthday out of the Dominican.  He has decent size for a lefty, giving him a chance to add velocity.  Batista currently throws in the low-90s and also throws a slider.  He has an unfortunate name, given Pirate history, but at least it’s spelled differently.

2013
DSL:  3-0-0, 2.24 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 56.1 IP, 4.3 BB/9, 5.8 K/9

Batista put up a low ERA as a swing man, but his walk and K rates weren’t good.

2014
R:  1-1-0, 2.70 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 26.2 IP, 2.4 BB/9, 4.4 K/9

The Pirates used Batista mostly in relief in the GCL.  He was reasonably effective and cut his walk rate nearly in half, but missed very few bats.

2015
R:  3-1-1, 3.28 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 35.2 IP, 2.8 BB/9, 7.1 K/9

A little surprisingly, the Pirates sent Batista back to the GCL for 2015.  He didn’t turn 19 until just before the start of the 2015 season, so he was still pretty young.  Still pitching in relief except for one start, Batista had largely the same season as the year before, except for a much higher K rate.

Batista will open the 2016 season at age 20, so there’s still time for him to get on the prospect track.  He should be with Bristol or Morgantown.
CONTRACT INFORMATION
2016: Minor League Contract
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus: $120,000
MiLB Debut: 2013
MLB Debut: N/A
MiLB FA Eligible: 2019
MLB FA Eligible: N/A
Rule 5 Eligible: 2017
Added to 40-Man: N/A
Options Remaining: 3
MLB Service Time: 0.000
TRANSACTIONS
February 21, 2013: Signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an international free agent.