Ryan Haug

RYAN HAUG, CATCHER
Born: December 29, 1994
Height: 6′ 1″
Weight: 175
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Drafted: 27th Round, 804th Overall, 2018
How Acquired: Draft
College: University of Arizona
Agent: N/A

WTM’s PLAYER PROFILE

The Pirates drafted Haug as a college senior and he should fill out the catching depth in the lower levels.  He started his career in junior college before moving to Arizona for his last last three years.  He didn’t do much with the bat, hitting for a .235/.394/.261 line in 119 at-bats in 2018, although his previous two seasons with Arizona were a bit better.  He doesn’t hit for power, but has shown some ability to get on base, with a career .421 OBP in college.  He’s a good defensive catcher who has a strong arm, and he also runs well for a catcher.  Haug was the second player the Pirates drafted from Arizona this year, joining sixth round pick Michael Flynn.  The Pirates assigned Haug to the GCL, which is a very low level for a player who was 23 when he signed.

2018
R:  300/442/425, 40 AB, 2 2B, 1 HR, 1 BB, 4 K, 1-3 SB
A+:  000/000/000, 3 AB

Haug missed a good deal of time with a concussion, which created problems for the Pirates in the GCL because Samuel Inoa was also hurt.  Haug hit well but, again, he was quite old for the level.  He must crowd the plate because, in the GCL, he got hit ten times in just 52 plate appearances.  Including one game as a fill-in with Bradenton, he threw out 30% of base stealers.

2019
A-:  275/377/353, 51 AB, 4 2B, 4 BB, 14 K, 3-5 SB
A:  250/250/250, 4 AB

Other than filling in briefly at Greensboro, Haug served as a backup at West Virginia.  The Pirates evidently like Elys Escobar more, as he got more time behind Kyle Wilkie than Haug did.  Haug hit reasonably well, with his OBP enhanced by five hit batsmen in just 61 plate appearances.  (For some reason, opponents targeted Haug, as most of those HBPs were clearly intentional.)  He threw out 35% of base stealers.

Haug seems to have settled in as an organizational catcher.

CONTRACT INFORMATION
2020: Minor league contract
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus:
MiLB Debut: 2018
MLB Debut:
MiLB FA Eligible: 2024
MLB FA Eligible:
Rule 5 Eligible: 2021
Added to 40-Man:
Options Remaining: 3
MLB Service Time: 0.000
TRANSACTIONS
June 6, 2018: Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 27th round, 804th overall pick; signed on June 14.