Position: C/OF
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 181 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
Born: 12/04/2003
Country: Dominican Republic
How Acquired: International Free Agent, 2021
Bonus: N/A
40-man Roster: No
Rule 5 Eligible: 2025
Minor League Free Agency: 2027
Options Left: 3
Overview
The Pirates signed Sosa as a potential power hitter who might be able to stay behind the plate. He has a good arm, but his receiving figured to need work. Since his first season, the Pirates have shifted him more and more to the outfield, so that may be where his future lies. He’s started showing power at the plate and he has good strike zone judgment. Despite the fact that he’s usually hit well, the Pirates have seemed disinclined to move him up.
2021-22
Sosa hit reasonably well in his DSL debut in 2021, with solid plate discipline but not much power yet. He played almost exclusively behind the plate, but threw out only 13% of base stealers and had ten passed balls in 27 games. The Pirates sent him back to the DSL in 2022 and he had a big year on offense. The power started coming around and he had a remarkable BB:K ratio of 25:12 to go with a batting line of 305/468/512. He started only nine games at catcher, compared to 18 in the outfield corners. Sosa missed several weeks late in the season due to injury.
2023-24
Sosa moved up to the FCL and, like Axiel Plaz, had a puzzling season. He got into fewer than two-thirds of the team’s games and often played only part of the game. He played only ten games in June. Unlike Plaz, Sosa had another big year at the plate, batting 275/495/406 and leading the team in OPS. He again walked more than he struck out, at 30 to 23. The power still could increase, but Sosa won’t turn 20 until December 2023. Sosa started only once behind the plate and caught 18 innings total. He mostly played in left and also served as the DH at times.
Sosa went back to the FCL to open 2024, by now playing the outfield corners exclusively. He continued to make contact and hit for average, batting 318/426/377, although he didn’t hit for much power. The Pirates finally moved him up to Bradenton at the beginning of July. He continued to get on base, but didn’t hit the ball with much authority and struck out in a third of his plate appearances. In mid-August, the Pirates reassigned Sosa to the FCL to make room for some of the team’s 2024 draftees, effectively ending his season.
Stats
Transactions
January 15, 2021: Signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an international free agent.