Winter League Update

During the offseason between the 2012 season and the 2013 season, several members of the Pirates organization have participated in Winter Leagues. Notable players who have received a substantial amount of playing time are listed below. Included below each player's name is their exploits during the offseason.







Vic Black

	IP	ERA	ER	H	HR	BB	K
Vic Black	10.2	11.81	14	17	0	11	11

Matt Curry

	AB	AVG	OBP	SLG	BB	K	XBH	HR
Matt Curry	79	0.253	0.366	0.342	13	23	5	1

Starling Marte

	AB	AVG	OBP	SLG	BB	K	XBH	HR
Starling Marte	112	0.304	0.381	0.464	13	23	10	2

Gift Ngeope

	AB	AVG	OBP	SLG	BB	K	XBH	HR
Gift Ngoepe	46	0.261	0.370	0.413	7	15	4	1

Gustavo Nunez 

	AB	AVG	OBP	SLG	BB	K	XBH	HR
Gustavo Nunez	13	0.308	0.438	0.308	3	2	0	0

Gregory Polanco 

	AB	AVG	OBP	SLG	BB	K	XBH	HR
Gregory Polanco	35	0.171	0.171	0.229	0	11	2	0

Adalberto Santos

	AB	AVG	OBP	SLG	BB	K	XBH	HR
Adalberto Santos	77	0.299	0.413	0.455	14	14	9	1

Rinku Singh

	IP	ERA	ER	H	HR	BB	K
Rinku Singh	9.1	4.82	5	12	0	4	7

The story of the offseason is Starling Marte.  Maligned for his plate discipline - he strikes out too much and doesn't walk enough - Marte has seen drastic improvement in a small sample size this offseason.  He's striking out under 20% of the time while walking at over 10%.  If Marte can translate that type of plate discipline to the major leagues, his offensive game would take a huge boon.  He's got the bat speed and foot speed to post high average numbers with lower strikeout numbers and he's got pop.  Striking out less and walking more would make Marte a complete offensive player.  Add that to his defense and he has a chance to be a superstar.  Note, it is small sample size - 112 at-bats - so it's not necessarily actual improvement, but it's a step in the right direction.

Another player of note is Adalberto Santos, who has received 77 at-bats for the Scottsdale Scorpions in the Arizona Fall League.  He's continued to flash his strong OBP skills, posting a .299 average and .413 OBP with 14 walks and 14 strikeouts.  Santos has also showed reasonable power, with 9 of his 23 hits being of the extra base variety.  Santos continues to beat the odds and could end up in a major league role in a few years.