Pirates Sign Catcher Kevin Plawecki to Minor League Deal; Invite to Big League Camp

The Pittsburgh Pirates have announced that they have signed catcher Kevin Plawecki to a minor league contract with an invite to big league camp.

Plawecki was originally drafted 35th overall by the New York Mets in the 2012 MLB draft out of the University of Purdue. Plawecki made his major league debut with the Mets in 2015, where he played in 73 games (233 at-bats) and batted .219.

The Hinsdale, Illinois native will be 32 on Feb. 26 and has spent eight years in the major leagues with four different clubs (Mets, Boston Redsox, Texas Rangers, and Cleveland Guardians).

Plawecki has had a hard time both at the plate with a career .235 batting average and behind the plate with all but three years having a negative DRS.

In 2022, Plawecki put forth his worst career behind the plate yet with a negative ten DRS, with his previous low coming in at negative 5 in 2017.

The 31-year-old made a total of 58 appearances (46 starts) behind the plate for the Red Sox last year while hitting .217 with eight doubles, a home run, and 12 RBI in 61 games with Boston.

At one point in the season, he hit .298 (17-for-57) in 20 games from Aug. 4 through Sept. 16 before being designated for assignment on Sept. 17 and released on Sept. 19.

Plawecki then signed with the Rangers on Sept 21 and appeared in three games.

With the Pittsburgh Pirates catching competition as light as it is, Plawecki should have a legitimate shot at making the big league club as the primary backup catcher.

Plawecki will be battling Tyler Heineman, another non-roster invite, and Jason Delay for the backup catcher role.