Pirates

Pirates Prospect Watch: Carter Bins Flying Under the Radar This Spring

Published

1 year ago

March 20, 2023

So far this spring training, plenty of Pittsburgh Pirates’ prospects are generating a lot of buzz with their performances.

Among the prospects who have had strong perfromances this spring include a pair of former first-round draft picks in Nick Gonzales and Travis Swaggerty with the latter fighting for a spot on the team’s Opening Day roster.

Rightfully, both players have received praise for how they have been playing, but there are some prospects who deserve to be talked about more.

One of those players is Pirates’ prospect Carter Bins, one of a handful of catchers currently in camp. Bins was acquired by the Pirates from the Seattle Mariners in a midseason trade in 2021.

Bins recieved one plate appearance for the Pirates in their 8-0 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday and he delivered a base hit.

The single boosted Bins’ batting average to .500 (6 for 12) along with a .600 on-base percentage and a .667 slugging percentage. Bins has recorded a pair of doubles, has driven in three runs and has drawn three walks.

Among players who have received double-digit plate appearances this spring, Bins leads the Pirates in both batting average and on-base percentage.

Bins will look to improve upon a down season at the plate in 2022. Between Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis a season ago, the 24-year-old combined to hit just .196 with a .673 OPS in 85 games.

Bins will likely begin the season back with Indianapolis.

In Other News…

Speaking of Swaggerty, the Pirates’ prospect drew a walk in his lone plate appearance in the Bucs’ contest against the Orioles. Swaggerty’s on-base percentage currently sits at .444 on the spring. The 2018 first-rounder has put himself in prime position to crack the Pirates’ 26-man roster come Opening Day.

After the game, the Pirates reassigned Nick Gonzales to minor league camp. Gonzales hit .391 with a .962 OPS this spring.