Pittsburgh Pirates: Five Locks to Come off the 40-Man Roster
By Marty Leap
Utility man Phillip Evans
When Phillip Evans first burst into the scene with the Pittsburgh Pirates he appeared to be a potential long-term answer in a right-handed hitting utility role. While his 2020 season was ended after just 45 PAs due to injury, he raked in those 45 PAs to the tune of a 158 wRC+.
Evans then started the 2021 season strong. From the start of the 2020 season through the end of April 2021, Evans accumulated 139 PAs with the Pirates. In these 139 tops to the plate Evans hit for a .273/.376/.430 slash line to go with a 120 wRC+, .157 ISO, 5 home runs and an extra base hit rate of 7%.
After a strong start to the 2021 season Evans started to show why he was a career minor leaguer. From May 1st until the end of the season Evans had 153 PAs. While he walked at a healthy 13.1% rate in these PAs, he hit for just a .189/.301/.235 slash line to go with a wRC+ of 55 and just 4 extra base hits.
Between injuries and poor performance Evans struggled to remain on the active roster for much of the second half of the season. With the Pirates looking to clear 40-man roster space this offseason Evans appears to be a lock to be taken off of the roster.