Pittsburgh Pirates: 2021 Infield & Catcher Player Grades

Sep 26, 2020; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates designated hitter Colin Moran (19) celebrates with catcher Jacob Stallings (58) and third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes (13) after hitting a three run home run during the fourth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2020; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates designated hitter Colin Moran (19) celebrates with catcher Jacob Stallings (58) and third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes (13) after hitting a three run home run during the fourth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – SEPTEMBER 02: Phillip Evans #24 of the Pittsburgh Pirates bats against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on September 02, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – SEPTEMBER 02: Phillip Evans #24 of the Pittsburgh Pirates bats against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on September 02, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images) /

Phillip Evans

GRADE: D-

2021 Stats: 76 games, .206/.312/.299, 5 home runs, 16 RBI, -0.3 WAR

There is a fairly simple reason why Phillip Evans grades out so low: his hitting performance from the shortened 2020 season did not carry over.

Evans batted a solid .359 with one home run and nine RBI in 11 games before his season ending collision with Gregory Polanco. It was nearly impossible to not give Evans a shot in 2021. The Pirates might’ve found something.

It turns out that Evans isn’t all that good. After all there is a reason that he is 29-years old with only 121 MLB games under his belt. He made seven errors in the field and had a -0.4 dWAR. Evans batted a very average .252 in Triple-A with no home runs and 10 RBI across 144 plate appearances. Everything that was positive about Evans – albeit in a short 11 game sample size – has gone by the way side.

Evans strikes me a DFA candidate later this offseason. The Pittsburgh Pirates have too many players in need of being added to the 40-man for Rule 5 purposes. Casting him away seems like a prudent move in a roster crunch.