Shawn Ross has become a 'three true outcome' hitter
Grasshoppers catcher on an extreme home run pace to begin minor league career
Since signing with the Pirates before the 2023 season, Shawn Ross has had one of the more unique tenures within the organization.
He was signed as an infielder but eventually transitioned to behind the plate with nearly no preparation and held his own.
Ross provided some power on the offensive side of things, slugging 14 home runs for the Grasshoppers in just 55 games last year, but was plagued by strikeout issues.
Returning to Greensboro this year, Ross has taken another step forward, becoming the second player in the Pirates’ system to reach double digits in home runs after hitting three on Wednesday against the Winston-Salem Dash.
That gives him 25 career home runs in less than 100 games played in his minor league career, an impressive feat. While Greensboro is a notoriously hitter-friendly ballpark, Ross has done more damage on the road, with 16 of those 25 home runs coming away from First National Bank Field.
Ross, 24, has leaned into baseball's ‘three true outcomes’—home runs, walks, and strikeouts. In fact, over 60% of his plate appearances since debuting with the Grasshoppers last year have ended up in either a walk, strikeout or home run (25 home runs, 140 strikeouts, 59 walks).
It’s over a far bigger sample size, but one of the most notorious three true outcome hitters—Joey Gallo—has had 58.9% of his plate appearances to finish that way. So, Ross is right up there with one of the most notable three true outcome hitters of all.
His numbers are incredibly home-run reliant—Ross has 11 home runs on 20 hits this season, which has dropped his BABIP to .184.
While he’s more of a depth player, as long as he continues to hit for this kind of power, someone will find a spot for him in the lineup, especially if he can turn around and throw out 30% of attempted base stealers behind the plate.
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He’s a very big dude and looks pretty good behind the plate. Very bad day at the plate in the game I saw him.
I am Groot.