Former Pittsburgh Pirates Currently With Independent League Teams

Aug 4, 2018; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Alex McRae (51) pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals during the seventh inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 4, 2018; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Alex McRae (51) pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals during the seventh inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – MAY 09: Steve Lombardozzi #23 of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the dugout prior to the game against the St Louis Cardinals at PNC Park on May 9, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – MAY 09: Steve Lombardozzi #23 of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the dugout prior to the game against the St Louis Cardinals at PNC Park on May 9, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images) /

UTL Steven Lombardozzi

Steven Lombardozzi spent most of his professional career as a member of the Washington Nationals. A 19th-round pick, Lombardozzi was never a highly touted prospect but steadily made his way through their minor league system as a contact-hitting-oriented infielder. He was the Nats’ 10th best prospect per MLB Pipeline going into 2012.

Lombardozzi earned semi-regular playing time in 2012 but heavily struggled with a .671 OPS, .296 wOBA, and 83 wRC+. After 2012, Lombardozzi spent one more year with the Nationals before being included in a package with Robbie Ray and Ian Krol for Doug Fister in the 2013-2014 off-season. He was traded once again that off-season, this time to the Baltimore Orioles for Alex Gonzalez. Lombardozzi spent just a single season with the Orioles, playing very sparingly in the major league before being put on waivers in the 2014-2015 off-season, and that’s when the Pirates claimed him.

Lombardozzi appeared in only 12 major league games and had 11 plate appearances with zero hits and one walk. He spent most of the season for the Bucs’ Triple-A affiliate, where he had a .671 OPS, .316 wOBA, and 97 wRC+. After 2015, Lombardozzi returned to the Nationals’ organization but didn’t appear in a major league game. He bounced around with the Oakland Athletics and Baltimore Orioles before heading into Indy League ball.

Lombardozzi spent the 2019 and 2021 seasons with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League before making his way to the American Association in 2022. He’s currently with the Kane County Cougars, with a solid .305/.359/.405 slash line in 173 trips to the plate. He’s served as a utility man, playing a little bit of everywhere on the diamond.