Pirates Claim Troy Stokes Jr. in Outfield Depth Move
The Pittsburgh Pirates made a minor move yesterday, as they aim to build on their outfield depth for 2021. It didn't get much media coverage, and if you weren't paying attention you might have missed it. The Pittsburgh Pirates claimed 24-year-old outfielder Troy Stokes Jr. off waivers yesterday from the Detroit Tigers and added him to the 40-man roster. In a subsequent move, the Pirates designated left-handed pitcher Nik Turley for assignment to make room for Stokes. Stokes has shown a good power stroke throughout his Minor League career, however like many other power hitters, with that power comes a strikeout ability. Still, he has kept his batting average right around the .250 mark and produced double-digit home runs in two of the last three seasons.
To go along with Stokes' power, he also features pretty good wheels as he stole 20 or more bases in each of his years of professional baseball. His defense has been top-notch, as he posted a .982 fielding percentage in 2019 and uses his speed to run down balls in the gap. He played the entirety of the 2019 season at Triple-A San Antonio for Milwaukee, and although he doesn't yet have Major League experience, he is on the cusp of breaking through. He probably would have gotten that experience last season, but a fractured hand forced him to miss the entire season. He is fully healthy now and hoping that he can impact his new team in 2021. Today, we look at Stokes' career and see how he fits into the 2021 fold.
The Road to Pittsburgh
Stokes' journey through the Minor Leagues has been a long one, as he spent the last seven seasons climbing the Minor League ladder. He was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 4th round of the 2014 draft out of Calvert Hall College High School in Baltimore, Maryland. The school has produced 14 draft picks, but none of them have ever made it to the Major Leagues, and Stokes is aiming to be the first. He started his career off in Rookie Ball and showed good contact ability hitting in the mid-.200s during his first three seasons. His power hadn't quite developed yet, but by 2016 he was in A-Ball and was hitting .268 with four home runs and 29 RBI over 86 games played.
He made the jump to Advanced-A ball in 2017, and that is when his power finally started to show through. He had grown into his body a bit more and hit .251 with 20 home runs and 74 RBI over a career-high 136 games between Advanced-A and Double-A. It was after this, that he started to propel himself through the Brewers Minor League system, playing in Double-A in 2018 and Triple-A in 2019, where he hit .233 with nine home runs and 40 RBI. There was a slight drop in production, but that is because Stokes missed the first month of the season after suffering a concussion. However, he bounced back with a terrific month of August where he hit .354 and was ready for a shot at the Big League club.
However, the Brewers had no room for the 23-year-old, so they designated him for assignment. It wasn't long before he was picked up by the Detroit Tigers, and had his shot at making the Big League club. He made his way onto the Tigers 40-man roster and put together an impressive Spring Training before COVID-19 shut things down. He played in 11 games for the Tigers and hit .273 (6-22) with an RBI. Out of his six hits during the spring, five of them went for extra-bases with all five of those extra-base hits being doubles. His speed allows him to take that extra base when he pushes the ball into the gap and just adds to his power ability. He was looking to make his MLB debut last season, but a fractured hand forced him to miss the entire season. He is now entering 2021 with the Pirates and looking to be the first player from Calvert Hall College High School to make it to the Major Leagues.
How He Fits With the Pirates in 2021
One of the things that General Manager Been Cherington said at the beginning of the off-season is that he was going to bring in outfield depth. After injuries and a COVID-19 diagnosis for Gregory Polanco left the Pirates with a shortage of outfielders last season, he wanted to make sure that doesn't happen again. Bringing in Stokes now adds to the Pirate's outfield depth, giving them five outfielders on their current 40-man roster. Stokes joins Gregory Polanco, Anthony Alford, Jared Oliva, and Bryan Reynolds as options in the outfield. He also brings the potential for power, which is something the Pirates desperately need after the loss of Josh Bell.
While his offensive ability is intriguing for a young Pirates team, the defense that comes with it is also enticing. His speed allows him to play all three outfield positions, and he plays all three of them very well. He spent most of his time in left field during the 2019 season, playing just over 640 innings there, and posted a .989 fielding percentage with just one error committed. He shows decent arm strength with three outfield assists, and his arm seems to work best out in right field. His speed is going to play well in the deep gaps of PNC Park, and he will provide some competition for the team's young outfielders. His power might give him an edge, but his defensive ability is what is shining brightest in my book.
As far as how Stokes fits into the 2021 Pirates, I see him making it a three-player race for the center fielder job. As of right now, Anthony Alford probably has the leg up on the position, but Stokes and Jared Oliva could give him a run for his money. Stokes brings the good power numbers that Alford hasn't yet shown, and both Oliva and Stokes are faster than Alford. In the end, I still think Alford will be the starting center fielder, but I think Stokes will be on the bench in 2021. Jared Oliva has not yet played above Double-A, and I think this move ensures he heads to Triple-A and gets to play every day rather than sitting on the bench. Stokes will more than likely be a fourth outfielder for the Pirates this year, and can hopefully provide some power off the bench that the Pirates desperately need.
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