Position: C
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 195 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
Born: 02/05/1997
College: University of Arkansas
How Acquired: Draft 5th round, 144th Overall, 2018
Bonus: $364,600
40-man Roster: No
Rule 5 Eligible: Eligible
Minor League Free Agency: 2024
Options Left: 3
Overview
Going into the 2018 season, Koch (pronounced like Cook) had a chance to go in the first two rounds of the draft. As a sophomore he hit 264/358/498, with 13 home runs, then led the US collegiate national team with a 372/500/535 line. As a junior, though, he dropped off to 257/376/415 and seven home runs. The biggest part of his offense is his power, which comes more from strength than bat speed. MLB.com, which ranked him 131st overall in the draft, and Baseball America, which had him 128th, both believed he could be pitched away. According to the scouting reports, Koch in the year before the draft improved his receiving and framing, while improving his technique enough to allow his average but accurate arm to play up. Koch’s signing was delayed by the College World Series, as Arkansas made it to the last game. He signed for exactly the slot value.
2018-21
The delay due to the CWS meant that Koch didn’t join Morgantown until a week into July 2018. Once he did, he became the primary catcher. Other than a good walk rate, Koch showed very little at the plate, hitting .188 with minimal power. He threw out 28% of base stealers.
In 2019, the Pirates sent Koch to Greensboro, which typically wouldn’t be a tough assignment for a player drafted in the fifth round out of college. He was nevertheless overmatched at the plate. His numbers would have looked even worse, but he had a three-homer game near the end of the season, followed by another longball the next day; those four were half his season’s total. Koch didn’t swing and miss a great deal, but didn’t hit the ball with much authority. He caught only 18% of base stealers.
Koch didn’t play during the pandemic season, then opened the season as the starting catcher at Greensboro. He continued to struggle at the plate, with a higher K rate than the previous year. His main offensive contribution was power and that happened because of the Grasshoppers’ home park. Koch had eight home runs and a .515 slugging average at home. On the road, he hit one home run and slugged .215. In mid-August, the Pirates moved Koch up to Altoona to make way for Henry Davis. He played part-time there and struggled still more. Against the running game, Koch did reasonably well, throwing out 25% at Greensboro.
2022-24
Koch served as an organizational catcher in 2022, filling in mostly at Bradenton. He threw out only 12% of opposing base stealers. He got more playing time in 2023, spending the season with Indianapolis and getting into 60 games. He hit much better than previous seasons, with a 255/318/391 line. He threw out only 12% of base stealers.
Koch opened the 2024 season at Indianapolis. When Joey Bart got hurt in late May, though, the Pirates called Koch up, then outrighted him to AAA a week later. He spent the last two months of the season on the development list. He ultimately got into 30 games with Indy, batting just 191/265/281 with a 34% strikeout rate. He threw out three of 24 base stealers.
Stats
Transactions
June 5, 2018: Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 5th round, 144th overall pick; signed on July 2.
May 28, 2024: Contract purchased by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
June 6, 2024: Outrighted to AAA by the Pittsburgh Pirates.