Position: C/IF
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 185 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
Born: 09/30/1999
College: Faulkner University
How Acquired: Minor League Free Agent
Bonus: N/A
40-man Roster: No
Rule 5 Eligible: 2026
Minor League Free Agency: 2029
Options Left: 3
Overview
Ross put up big power numbers at NAIA Faulkner University. He wasn’t drafted, possibly due to the fact that he struck out in a third of his ABs. He signed with Grand Junction of the independent Pioneer League. After a year there, he signed a minor league deal with the Pirates. Given the lack of draft reports, there isn’t much scouting information on Ross. One report from his prep days credits him with a very strong arm. By 2024, though, he’d moved to catcher and was rated by South Atlantic League managers as the league’s best defender at the position.
2022
Ross put up very big numbers in the Pioneer League, with an OPS of 1.022, but the league had an OPS of .850, so his numbers have to be taken in context. His walk and K rates were both very high. The Pirates signed him after the season. He was the third player with gaudy Pioneer League hitting stats to sign with the Pirates within a year. Jakob Goldfarb signed for the 2022 season, but lasted only six weeks. Josh Broughton signed for 2023, but was released at the end of spring training.
2023-24
The Pirates assigned Ross to Greensboro at the beginning of June in 2023. Initially, he served as a utility infielder, playing second, third and short. Eventually, he started catching, appearing in 21 games there. He had nine passed balls, but threw out 39% of base stealers. He didn’t hit for average and struck out in 41% of his plate appearances, but he drew a lot of walks and hit for good power, batting 203/324/467 with 14 home runs in less than half a season.
Ross went back to Greensboro in 2024 and was the team’s most frequent catcher. He played well defensively and threw out 28% of base stealers. He also played ten games at third. At the plate, Ross was a three-true outcomes hitter. He led the league with 23 home runs and also in ISO, but batted only .193 with a 35% K rate. He did have a 15% walk rate and hit just 25 singles in 92 games. Ross hit 11 of the 23 home runs on the road, so the Greensboro ballpark didn’t account for the power.
Stats
Transactions
December 2, 2022: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Pittsburgh Pirates.