Brett Sullivan
Position: C
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 195 lbs
Bats/Throws: L/R
Born: 2/22/1994
College: University of the Pacific
Drafted: 17th Round, 508th Overall, 2015 (Rays)
How Acquired: Trade (from Padres for Bryce Johnson)
Bonus: N/A
40-man Roster: No
Rule 5 Eligible: Eligible
Minor League Free Agency: 2025
Options Left: 0
Overview
Sullivan is an experienced depth-type catcher who’s spent a lot of time in AAA while getting limited exposure to the majors. He didn’t hit much in just 103 plate appearances with the Padres, but he has a career .791 OPS in 375 AAA games, with a little power, and good walk and K rates. Defensively, according to MLBTR, he hasn’t rated well in framing at the major league level, but has done well in AAA. He’s thrown out 28% of base stealers during his career in the minors. Sullivan has also gotten a little time at third in the minors and in left, and spent a few games at first. The Pirates acquired him in a trade with the Padres.
2015-17
The Rays drafted Sullivan in 2015; they took Joey Bart in the same draft, although they didn’t sign him. He reached AA late in the 2017 season, after hitting for solid power and good averages at the lower levels. Specifically, he had a .779 OPS in advanced rookie ball in 2015, .752 in low A in 2016, and .794 in 83 games at high A in 2017. He got into 24 games in AA late in that last season.
2018-21
The Rays kept Sullivan in AA for all of 2018 and 2019. He hit decently there in 2018, with a .702 OPS, but got sent back the next year and put up a line of 280/333/459. Sullivan didn’t play in affiliated ball in 2020, although he did play five games in independent ball. In 2021, Tampa Bay finally sent him to AAA, where he didn’t hit so well, just 223/302/375, although he had a solid walk rate and struck out in only 16% of his plate appearances. Sullivan became a free agent after the 2021 season and signed a major league contract with Milwaukee.
2022-24
At the end of spring training in 2022, the Brewers traded Sullivan to San Diego. He spent all of that season in AAA, batting 285/339/444. In 2023, the Padres called him up in mid-April. He stayed in the majors for about six weeks, then went back to AAA. He returned to the Padres in September. He had his best, partial season in AAA that year, batting 328/401/517. In 33 games in the majors, he had just a .528 OPS.
In 2024, Sullivan continued to hit well in AAA, with a career-high 17 home runs and an .831 OPS. He got into only seven games in the majors.
2025
At the end of spring training, San Diego outrighted Sullivan to AAA. In mid-April, the Padres traded him to the Pirates. The latter needed an upper level catcher with both Joey Bart and Endy Rodriguez hurt, and Jason Delay having been lost on waivers.
With both Bart and Rodriguez on the injured list with newer injuries, the Pirates called Sullivan up in June. A little over a week later they designated him for assignment, then re-signed him to a minor league deal. He has no options left.
Stats
Transactions
June 10, 2015: Drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 17th round, 508th overall pick; signed on June 20.
November 7, 2021: Became a free agent.
November 30, 2021: Signed as a free agent by the Milwaukee Brewers.
April 6, 2022: Traded by the Milwaukee Brewers with Korry Howell to the San Diego Padres for Victor Caratini.
March 26, 2025: Outrighted to AAA by the San Diego Padres.
April 17, 2025: Traded by the San Diego Padres to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Bryce Johnson and cash.
June 7, 2025: Called up by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
June 16, 2025: Designated for assignment by the Pittsburgh Pirates, opted for free agency.
June 20, 2025: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Pittsburgh Pirates.