Phillip Evans

PHILLIP EVANS, THIRD BASEMAN
Born: September 10, 1992
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 210
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Drafted: 15th Round, 462nd Overall, 2011 (Mets)
How Acquired: Minor League Free Agent
High School: La Costa Canyon HS (Carlsbad, CA)
Agents: N/A

WTM’s PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

Evans had a disappointing senior season in high school that dropped him out of the early rounds of the draft, but the Mets took him in the 15th round and signed him to a a well-above-slot bonus.  Scouts thought he would eventually show roughly average power.  He was drafted as a shortstop but was expected to move to second due to inadequate range, as he has below average speed.  His arm is above average.  He played mostly short in the low minors, though, as his defense there improved.  More recently he’s become a utility player who plays third the most.  He struggled at the plate much of the time until he reached AA, when he suddenly started to hit.  He eventually got into 34 games with the Mets.  He had very large platoon splits in 2018-19.  The Pirates signed him to a minor league deal with an invitation to major league spring training.

2011
R:  333/412/467, 15 AB, 2 2B, 2 BB, 3 K, 0-1 SB
R+:  364/417/545, 11 AB, 2 2B, 1 BB, 2 K
A-:  125/125/125, 8 AB

Evans signed late and the Mets moved him up through three different short-season levels.  He got into a total of nine games, all at shortstop.  Baseball America rated him 21st in the Mets’ system after the season.

2012
A-:  252/328/337, 294 AB, 8 2B, 1 3B, 5 HR, 31 BB, 48 K, 2-2 SB

The Mets sent Evans to the New York-Penn League, where he played exclusively at short.  He didn’t hit a great deal, but showed good plate discipline.  BA rated him 16th in the system.

2013
A:  203/268/263, 350 AB, 13 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 30 BB, 60 K, 4-6 SB

Evans had a rough year in full season ball.  He continued to play short exclusively.

2014
R:  667/667/667, 3 AB, 1 K
A+:  247/314/319, 389 AB, 16 2B, 4 HR, 39 BB, 59 K, 0-1 SB

Evans moved up to high A and hit a little better, but not well.  He spent half his time at short and split the rest between second and third.

2015
A+:  234/300/313, 252 AB, 14 2B, 3 3B, 24 BB, 44 K, 2-4 SB

The Mets sent Evans back to high A.  He missed the first six weeks of the season, then put up about the same numbers as the previous year.  He played mostly second and third.

2016
A+:  143/273/143, 28 AB, 5 BB, 3 K
AA:  335/374/485, 361 AB, 30 2B, 8 HR, 19 BB, 60 K, 1-2 SB

Evans opened the season back in high A again, but moved up to AA in late April.  At the higher level he suddenly started to hit, with good gap power.  The improved hitting was accompanied by a sharp drop in his walk rate.  The Mets divided his time among the three infield positions.  BA rated him 26th in the Mets’ system after the season.

2017
AAA:  279/341/418, 466 AB, 26 2B, 3 3B, 11 HR, 42 BB, 79 K, 2-5 SB
MLB:  303/395/364, 33 AB, 2 2B, 4 BB, 8 K

Evans played mostly third and some at second in AAA.  He hit reasonably well, although it was in the high-offense environment at Las Vegas in the Pacific Coast League.  His walk rate moved back up.  The Mets called him up in September and he got some time at second and third.

2018
AAA:  256/327/493, 219 AB, 8 2B, 1 3B, 14 HR, 21 BB, 42 K, 4-7 SB
MLB:  143/217/143, 21 AB, 2 BB, 8 K, 1-1 SB

Evans spent most of the season’s first four months in AAA, but got several brief callups.  While there, he hit for increased power.  He played mostly third, but also saw time at second and short, and in left.  The Mets called him up in late July, but he suffered a fractured tibia at the beginning of August and missed the rest of the season.  The Mets outrighted him after the season and he became a free agent.  The Cubs signed him to a minor league deal in December.

2019
AAA:  283/371/470, 466 AB, 30 2B, 3 3B, 17 HR, 57 BB, 74 K, 1-5 SB

Evans spent the season with the Cubs’ AAA affiliate, playing mostly third but also some at first and second.  He hit well, with good power, but you have to take into account the offensive explosion in AAA due to a more lively ball.

Evans will probably serve as infield depth in AAA.

UPDATE:  Evans made the Pirates’ 30-man roster out of summer camp and was added to the 40-man roster.  He may provide a little offense on a bench that’s going to offer very little of it.

CONTRACT INFORMATION
2020: Major league minimum
2018: $555,000
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus: $650,000
MiLB Debut: 2011
MLB Debut: 9/8/2017
MiLB FA Eligible: N/A
MLB FA Eligible: 2025
Rule 5 Eligible: N/A
Added to 40-Man: September 8, 2017
Options Remaining: 2 (USED:  2018)
MLB Service Time: 0.110
TRANSACTIONS
June 8, 2011: Drafted by the New York Mets in the 15th round, 462nd overall pick; signed on August 15.
September 8, 2017: Contract purchased by the New York Mets.
October 25, 2017: Outrighted to AAA by the New York Mets.
March 29, 2018: Called up by the New York Mets.
June 6, 2018: Designated for assignment by the New York Mets; outrighted to AAA on June 8.
July 24, 2018: Called up by the New York Mets.
November 2, 2018: Outrighted to AAA by the New York Mets; elected free agency.
December 19, 2018: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Chicago Cubs.
November 4, 2019: Became a free agent.
December 17, 2019: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
July 23, 2020: Called up by the Pittsburgh Pirates.