Former Pittsburgh Pirates Currently With Independent League Teams

OF Felix Pie

It’s been a very long career for Felix Pie. Pie was initially signed by the Chicago Cubs over two decades ago on July 3rd, 2001. Pie quickly became a top 100 prospect throughout the league, making Baseball America’s top 100 list every year from 2002 through 2007. However, he could never establish himself in the major leagues. He hit for just a .673 OPS, .296 wOBA, and 81 wRC+ for the Cubs and Baltimore Orioles from 2007 through 2011.

Pie spent one season with the Pittsburgh Pirates, that being in 2013. He mostly played at Triple-A, slashing .251/.325/.390 with a 100 wRC+. On the plus side, he did swipe 38 bags for Indianapolis. Pie did appear in the majors for the Pirates, albeit in only 27 games and collecting 31 plate appearances. Pie had five hits and struck out 13 times.

Fast-forward to 2022, and Pie has played pretty much everywhere you can think of. He’s played Dominican Winter Ball, in the KBO, in China, and in the Mexican League. Now 37 years old, he’s been playing with the Atlantic League Kentucky Wild Health Genomes. He actually hasn’t done too bad either, batting .251/.350/.413. He’s even pitched a third of an inning for the Genomes.

You gotta give Pie some credit. He’s likely one of the longest active professional baseball players in the United States, making his professional debut in 2002. His last affiliated professional baseball game was on September 29th, 2013, when the Pirates beat the Cincinnati Reds 4-2. Despite not getting any attention from any Major League team for nearly a decade now, Pie has stuck with his craft, now in his 21st professional season.