Offseason Questions: How Does Phillip Evans Fit in the Pirates 2020 Plans?
Before Ke'Bryan Hayes ever graced the PNC Park field in 2020, there was another infielder who was making his mark on the Major League club. After being released by the New York Mets in 2018 and Chicago Cubs in 2019, the Pirates took a chance signing Minor League free agent Phillip Evans. They gave him an invite to Spring Training, and he impressed the Pirates coaching staff hitting .333 (11-33) with two home runs, nine RBI, and six total extra-base hits. He earned his way onto the Big League roster for Opening Day and was a bench player through the early part of the season. He was never guaranteed playing time but ended up earning his way into the Pirates lineup.
He filled in at first base, second base, third base, right field, and left field during the season, and can play six of the nine positions on the field when needed. Hitting ability, and he is bound to find a way into the Pirates lineup. We would have ended up seeing a lot more of Evans if his jaw hadn't been broken by Gregory Polanco's elbow in an outfield collision. He required surgery and has worked himself back to game-ready as we get ready for the 2021 season. The question is, where does Phillips stand in 2021? With first base and third base both locked down, he is going to have to once again fight his way into the lineup. Utility men have had success in Pittsburgh in the past, and now Evans is looking to be the next in line for success stories.
A Middle-Of-The-Order Bat
If there is one thing that Evans proved in his short time with the Pirates in 2020, it is his ability to swing the bat. He appeared in just 11 games for the Pirates but hit .359 with a home run and nine RBI. He consistently put the bat on the ball and was able to drive the ball to the gaps and get hits in key situations. When he came up with runners in scoring position in 2020, he hit .556 (5-9) with one home run and eight RBI, while also scoring five runs in those situations. Obviously, it was in a short sample size, with just 11 games played, but Evans showed that he can come through in the clutch and drive in runs for his team.
Another quality that Evans possesses offensively is good plate discipline and pitch awareness. He drew five walks while striking out only seven times in 39 at-bats and had an on-base percentage of .444 during the season. At the time he was injured, he was the team's leading hitter and had a multi-hit performance in three of his final five games of the season. He projects as a middle to top of the lineup bat either setting the table or helping to drive in runs. He succeeded in both roles in 2020, spending the majority of the season hitting either second or sixth in the order. He produced comparable numbers, hitting .333 with two RBI in the two spot and .353 with one home run and six RBI in the six spot. He got on base consistently from both spots but used his ability to drive in runs more effectively in the sixth spot.
The question on Evans is whether or not this success at the Major League level is sustainable? Evans had spent five years climbing the Minor League ladder with the Mets and Cubs, and throughout that time his numbers stayed pretty consistent. In over 800 games played at the Minor League level, Evans was a .264 hitter with 61 home runs and 326 RBI. 61 home runs might not sound like a lot in nine seasons, but his power really didn't start coming on until he made the full-time transfer to the corner infield positions in 2017. After that, he produced double-digit home runs in three straight seasons, and his strikeout numbers still stayed relatively low with Evans going down in 15% of his at-bats on strikes. When given a chance to play full-time, Evans has shown an ability to be consistent at the plate
A Man Who Can Play Anywhere
Looking at Phillip Evans's defensive resume, this is a man who can play all over the baseball field. Whenever the Mets signed him, he was a middle infielder and played primarily as a shortstop. He moved to second base because he was having trouble defensively at shortstop, and he began to take off. As he continued to hit the ball consistently, he started playing more positions including third base, first base, and the outfield. He appeared at five of those six positions with the Pirates during 2020 Spring Training and stuck to the corner infield and outfield spots when the regular season rolled around.
He spent the majority of his time at third base for the Pirates in 2020 and committed two errors in 68.1 innings of work for a horrible .882 fielding percentage. However, just like his offensive game, you can only take those numbers with a grain of salt because that spanned just eight of his 16 games played. Over the course of his short Major League career, Evans has a fielding percentage of .943 at the hot corner and has logged more innings there than at any other position. However, with the hot corner being held down by Ke'Bryan Hayes for the foreseeable future, look for Evans to get more work at his other positions as a bench player giving Hayes days off when he needs them.
Evans 2021 Plan
The Pirates definitely liked what they saw from Evans in 2020, and will more than likely want to take a better look at him in 2021. If the rumors that the Pirates are trading Adam Frazier are true, that leaves a hole at second base. Being that Evans was a middle infielder to start his career, this could be an opening for the 28-year-old. If he can continue to hit consistently, Manager Derek Shelton would have no choice but to put him in the lineup. Having some power at second base could also benefit the Pirates lineup, by adding some protection behind Josh Bell. Evans could fit nicely in the Pirate's sixth hole, where he would have a chance to use his ability to drive in runs and hit in Big Situations. However, if Frazier stays in 2021, then look for Evans to be used as a clutch bat off the bench.
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