Who Could Be The Pittsburgh Pirates Backup Shortstop In 2017?

Jul 10, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle (13) speaks on the dugout phone before playing the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 10, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle (13) speaks on the dugout phone before playing the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
Pittsburgh Pirates
Aug 23, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle (13) hits balls during infield practice before playing the Houston Astros at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

Offseason Addition Chris Bostick

On September 26th the Pittsburgh Pirates claimed Chris Bostick off waivers from the Washington Nationals. Due to this, like Gift Ngoepe, Bostick is on the 40-man roster. And this will give him the opportunity to make the team out of Spring Training.

Bostick started the 2016 season with Washington’s Double-A affiliate the Harrisburg Senators. He would then earn a promotion to the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs. If he does not make earn a Major League roster spot out of Spring Training, he will begin the year with Triple-A Indianapolis.

At Double-A last season Chris Bostick slashed .290/.356/.462/.818 with a .366 wOBA, 126 wRC+, and a .172 ISO. However, his numbers dropped significantly when he got to Triple-A. For the Chiefs his slash line plummeted to .206/.261/.297/.568 with a .256 wOBA, a wRC+ of 57, and an ISO of .095.

Personally, I would rather see Gift Ngoepe as the backup shortstop than Chris Bostick. While neither will be much threat with the bat, Ngoepe is an elite defender at shortstop. And this is something that can not be said about Bostick.