Glad to see Liover Peguero only contracting to play in the DWL for a month. This could be the most important year of his career with the Pirates. He probably felt obligated to play, but I am glad he has set aside a lot of time to get prepped for ST. His developmental progression has been yo-yo'd since being signed and starting in 2018 and 2019 then missing 2020 and starting again in 2021.
He had power for a MI but his K/BB numbers were around 4/1. He put it together in 2023 at AA with 20 doubles, 11 HR in only 285 AB with 32 BB/58 K. Then he was called up to the Pirates after the Oneil Cruz injury, and he did well for a 22 year old. Sent back to AAA last year to supposedly complete his development, he had good numbers of EBH of 29 doubles/4 triples/13 HR but the K/BB numbers were up around 3/1.
One of the many MI's who could find themselves at 2B or SS in 2025 - play them or trade them, but having 7 or 8 MI's on the 40 is ridiculous, and that's not even counting Termarr Johnson!
The last line in AM’s (great) article above about Peggy is like saying, “hey, it’s pretty short, but it’s also not thick either.”
Any yo-yo-ing that was done with Liover is now well in the past when you consider he had an entire year of really middling results in AAA last year. That, in my mind, trumps anything in his development path from longer ago. It would be one thing if he played elite, or even Alika-like, defense at SS. Then, you could live with the bat and hold onto a faint hope that he further develops against MLB-level pitchers (how often does that really happen?).
Also, until you have at least a few MI’s come up and perform well at the MLB level (or really tear the cover off the ball in AAA while the guy(s) in front of him is playing well and blocking a promotion), these guys, outside of TJ, have very little current trade value.
Then apply my last line - trade him. He played last year as a 23 year old at AAA - 23 year olds who can play SS/2B and post 46 EBH including 13 HR's have value. Maybe not substantial value on his own, but paired with a SP like Ashcraft or Oviedo, they could return a solid hitter. There could be one or more teams out there who doubt the ability of the Pirates to consistently develop hitters - it's definitely worth the effort.
IKF is still a Pirate and Nick Gonzales is going to open the season as our starting 2B. Lose another year on Liover Peguero and any value of this year could be gone next year. If Peguero is a thought for SS, trade NG who has now value from last year, play Peguero at 2B, and alternate he and IKF at SS and 2B. Mix Yorke in as well at 2B and go with Peguero and Yorke as the MI.
Great to see Ramos back in the fold. He was one of the 3 or 4 guys who caused me concern that the Pirates had lost a potential big-leaguer during the raid that Cherington allowed on the minor league system a couple years back.
Thanks for the update. Did Franzua and Fajardo resign? Last transaction I saw was they elected Free Agency. I doubt Fajardo has much of shot with limited power, but compared to some of the hitters in Altoona he looked like he actually knew what he was doing at the plate.
It was originally said that Cruz was out due to a stomach ailment, but I've been reading from fans of the team who are saying he is no longer with the club. He hasn't played in a week. His winter experience always has something. It never goes normal.
During his entire pro career, Hernandez has 1248 runs, 2154 hits, 570 extra-base hits and 398 steals. He surpassed 3,000 total bases this winter. His big league career fell short of expectations, but he has put together quite a pro career.
With players from Mexico it is very common because they sign winter/summer contracts at a young age. They can play almost year round and make good money without ever leaving home. Other countries it is more difficult because they don't have summer money available.
Hernandez did put in six partial/full seasons, so he did a lot more in the majors than a majority of team's top 30 prospects. Two Pirates examples similar to him are Jose Castillo and Alex Ramirez. Castillo was just shy of 3,000 hits when he was killed in a planned auto accident/robbery. Ramirez hit over 500 homers in pro ball, mostly in Japan, but he had just 332 big league at-bats.
Glad to see Liover Peguero only contracting to play in the DWL for a month. This could be the most important year of his career with the Pirates. He probably felt obligated to play, but I am glad he has set aside a lot of time to get prepped for ST. His developmental progression has been yo-yo'd since being signed and starting in 2018 and 2019 then missing 2020 and starting again in 2021.
He had power for a MI but his K/BB numbers were around 4/1. He put it together in 2023 at AA with 20 doubles, 11 HR in only 285 AB with 32 BB/58 K. Then he was called up to the Pirates after the Oneil Cruz injury, and he did well for a 22 year old. Sent back to AAA last year to supposedly complete his development, he had good numbers of EBH of 29 doubles/4 triples/13 HR but the K/BB numbers were up around 3/1.
One of the many MI's who could find themselves at 2B or SS in 2025 - play them or trade them, but having 7 or 8 MI's on the 40 is ridiculous, and that's not even counting Termarr Johnson!
The last line in AM’s (great) article above about Peggy is like saying, “hey, it’s pretty short, but it’s also not thick either.”
Any yo-yo-ing that was done with Liover is now well in the past when you consider he had an entire year of really middling results in AAA last year. That, in my mind, trumps anything in his development path from longer ago. It would be one thing if he played elite, or even Alika-like, defense at SS. Then, you could live with the bat and hold onto a faint hope that he further develops against MLB-level pitchers (how often does that really happen?).
Also, until you have at least a few MI’s come up and perform well at the MLB level (or really tear the cover off the ball in AAA while the guy(s) in front of him is playing well and blocking a promotion), these guys, outside of TJ, have very little current trade value.
Then apply my last line - trade him. He played last year as a 23 year old at AAA - 23 year olds who can play SS/2B and post 46 EBH including 13 HR's have value. Maybe not substantial value on his own, but paired with a SP like Ashcraft or Oviedo, they could return a solid hitter. There could be one or more teams out there who doubt the ability of the Pirates to consistently develop hitters - it's definitely worth the effort.
IKF is still a Pirate and Nick Gonzales is going to open the season as our starting 2B. Lose another year on Liover Peguero and any value of this year could be gone next year. If Peguero is a thought for SS, trade NG who has now value from last year, play Peguero at 2B, and alternate he and IKF at SS and 2B. Mix Yorke in as well at 2B and go with Peguero and Yorke as the MI.
Great to see Ramos back in the fold. He was one of the 3 or 4 guys who caused me concern that the Pirates had lost a potential big-leaguer during the raid that Cherington allowed on the minor league system a couple years back.
Thanks for the update. Did Franzua and Fajardo resign? Last transaction I saw was they elected Free Agency. I doubt Fajardo has much of shot with limited power, but compared to some of the hitters in Altoona he looked like he actually knew what he was doing at the plate.
Neither did.
It was originally said that Cruz was out due to a stomach ailment, but I've been reading from fans of the team who are saying he is no longer with the club. He hasn't played in a week. His winter experience always has something. It never goes normal.
"Gorkys Hernandez"
Good lord . . . .
Always reminds me of a CD I once owned of an overlooked Welsh outfit called Gorky's Zygotic Mynci!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPGzrg1ZibU&list=PLvFq9NC4PQzTdr98ZcKCdB4rG-1v2Wi1E
He autographed my hat while he was in AA and then made this incredible catch in center field.
Had to mention him lol
During his entire pro career, Hernandez has 1248 runs, 2154 hits, 570 extra-base hits and 398 steals. He surpassed 3,000 total bases this winter. His big league career fell short of expectations, but he has put together quite a pro career.
That would make a good book, Mr. D?
Or an interesting documentary. Many players have pro careers that don't include MLB, especially in Latin America, I suppose. Am I correct?
It makes me wonder if Crash Davis still has the minor league home run record.
With players from Mexico it is very common because they sign winter/summer contracts at a young age. They can play almost year round and make good money without ever leaving home. Other countries it is more difficult because they don't have summer money available.
Hernandez did put in six partial/full seasons, so he did a lot more in the majors than a majority of team's top 30 prospects. Two Pirates examples similar to him are Jose Castillo and Alex Ramirez. Castillo was just shy of 3,000 hits when he was killed in a planned auto accident/robbery. Ramirez hit over 500 homers in pro ball, mostly in Japan, but he had just 332 big league at-bats.