Jose Pirela

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked San Diego Padres #21 prospect in 2016
  The Yankees signed Pirela for $300,000 as a shortstop out of Venezuela in 2006, and he finally broke through to crack the big league roster in 2014 and 2015, his eighth and ninth seasons as a pro. He had sporadic success as a utilityman with New York, playing second base and the corner-outfield posts and showing a lively, righthanded bat at times. The Yankees traded Pirela to the Padres to clear 40-man roster room in November 2015, receiving righthander Ronald Herrera in exchange. Pirela has shown the ability to grind at-bats and hit with two strikes--he owns a .311 career average in nearly 200 Triple-A games-- but he has not been particularly adept at any defensive position. He's an average fielder at second, but below average in left field. His throwing arm is average, as are his hands. Pirela is a high-energy presence, and like fellow offseason trade pickup Carlos Asuaje, is a versatile role player going forward.
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  Ranked New York Yankees #28 prospect in 2015
  It's taken a while for him to marinate but Pirela, signed for $300,000 as a shortstop out of Venezuela in 2006, finally made it to the major leagues toward the end of 2014. He led the Triple-A International League in hits with 163, a figure that placed him among the top 15 in the minors. Though still a question mark on defense no matter where he plays, Pirela spent time at every position except catcher and third base in 2014. He grinds out at-bats, has shown ability to go with the pitch with two strikes and in 2014 posted the highest full-season slugging percentage of his career at .441. A potential utility candidate in the mold of Yangervis Solarte, Pirela will battle with Rob Refsnyder for the Yankees' starting second base job in 2015.