The Pirates announced Tuesday they have signed four players, including one of the best hitters in the Dominican Winter league this year, to minor-league contracts with invitations to spring training.
Outfielder Socrates Brito, left-hander Miguel Del Pozo, infielder Phillip Evans and right-hander Hector Noesi will each be given an opportunity to make the roster in Bradenton this spring.
The Noesi signing was previously reported during the MLB Winter Meetings in San Diego last week. Noesi had a very successful run in Korea from 2016-2018 but struggled with the Marlins last season. He has failed to make headway as a big league starter in parts of six seasons, but has shown flashes as a reliever.
Brito, 27, comes from the Blue Jays, so GM Ben Cherington and assistant GM Steve Sanders are familiar with him. The Blue Jays acquired him last April, but they designated him for assignment in May after a very slow start, which included setting a franchise record by going hitless in his first 21 at-bats with his new team. He slashed .077/.163/.128 with two RBIs in 43 big league plate appearances last year, but won the MVP award for the Blue Jays' Triple-A affiliate Buffalo Bisons.
Brito lead the Dominican Winter League with 54 hits and four triples this year. He has hit .179 with five home runs and 18 RBIs in parts of four major league seasons.
Del Pozo, 27, made his major-league debut in 2019, allowing 11 runs in 9.1 innings with the Angels. He struck out 31.5% of his Triple-A batters faced last year, but still finished with a 4.99 ERA in 48.2 innings pitched. He allowed four runs, three earned, in six appearances in the Dominican Winter League.
Del Pozo offers a mid-90s fastball, a curveball that averages a spin rate of 2,550 RPM and a changeup.
Evans, 27, spent all of last season with the Cubs' Triple-A affiliate in Iowa, where he slashed .283/.371/.470 with 17 home runs and 61 RBI in 130 games played. He can play first, second and third base, though he is more prone to miscues at the hot corner.
Evans earned two cups of coffee in the majors in 2017 and 2018, where he hit .241 in 61 plate appearances. He struggled in 14 games in the Mexican Winter League, recording a .543 OPS.
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