The Pirates have signed first baseman Darick Hall to a minor league deal, as revealed by Hall on his Instagram page earlier this week. Hall elected minor league free agency at season’s end, after the Phillies outrighted him off their 40-man roster back in August.
A 14th-round pick for the Phillies in the 2016 draft, Hall showed plenty of pop during his time in the minors, including a .253/.342/.458 slash line and 76 homers over 1735 plate appearances at the Triple-A level. Big production in the 2022 season in particular earned Hall his first trip to the big leagues, and he continued to impress by hitting .250/.282/.522 with nine homers in 142 PA.
Unfortunately, a thumb surgery cost him over two and a half months of the 2023 season, and Hall hit only .167/.196/.241 over 56 Major League PA while spending most of the year at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Hall last appeared in the big leagues on July 20, 2023, as he spent the entirety of the 2024 season in the minors. Hall hit only .236/.320/.387 over 488 PA for Lehigh Valley last year, so he didn’t do much to force the issue in earning himself another look on Philadelphia’s roster.
It also didn’t help Hall that, as a first base-only player at this stage of his career, the Phillies never had much of a place to play him. Between Rhys Hoskins, Bryce Harper, and Kyle Schwarber, the Phils had most of the first base and DH at-bats spoken for, leaving Hall without much of an opening unless someone was injured. (The Phillies only called Hall up to the majors in 2022 after Harper was sidelined by a fractured thumb.)
After spending his entire pro career in Philadelphia, Hall will now head across Pennsylvania to join the Bucs, though he’ll again find himself lower on the depth chart. Andrew McCutchen will continue to garner most of the DH at-bats and the newly-acquired Spencer Horwitz is slated to be the Pirates’ regular first baseman. Horwitz and Hall are both left-handed hitters so that will limit platoon opportunities, though Hall might find a niche if McCutchen is spelled against the occasional righty starter.
Hall has played a handful of games as a left fielder in winter ball, but he has made only one career minor league appearance in the outfield, so it doesn’t seem likely that the Pirates will use him anywhere beyond first base. Hall is out of minor league options, so if he did stick with the Buccos beyond Spring Training, Pittsburgh would have to put him through waivers again if the club wanted to send him to the minors.
Hope he gets his chance and does well!
So do I, although I would be surprised to see him get and maintain regular at bats the entire 2925 season.
Welcome to the Hall of Nutting.
as Pirates fans we all have hope that players do well during any season under this administration but we have learned that hope is only a four letter word with no reality
Instead we endure another word that describes the seasons year after year
Disappointment
What do you think of Yorke?
I think Yorke has real potential to be a very good hitter.
Question is, will Shelton’s style of micro managing adversely affect him
Other than Cutch have the Pirates added a dime to their payroll this off season?
Most of any increase in payroll will be raises for Keller, IKF, and Bednar.
The close followers of team believe there’s only about $10 million left to spend.
Those are increases but you can also subtract the likes of Taylor, Chapman, and Tellez. That’s 18-19mil.
I think it’s pretty clear Pirates aren’t adding much payroll this offseason by what’s transpired so far this winter, and every other winter since Nutting’s acquired the team.
It just blows me away that they don’t see Skenes as a reason to spend, I know it’s unlikely he’ll resign with them but don’t you have to show him some effort to improve the team. If not now when?
Exactly right and what many of us feel
This team has stellar starting pitching
They just need a couple bats to build around it
And look what these clowns have done
10 million?
I’d shed tears of joy for 10 million brotha
Realistically they may spend under 6 on a reliever
RF is likely Davis/Suwinski/Palacios competition
yeah, the three stooges battling it out to see who can strike out the most as a right fielder
They have added new coaches but until either Nutting sells the franchise or Shelton loses his job, it won’t matter how much money they spend,, they will never bring another championship to this city
Shelton and his coaching staff are not the answers for a small market club. They don’t teach the basic fundamentals of baseball and the players lack any discipline
Nutting is both loyal and cheap to a fault.
yes, he’s loyal to his bank accounts and profit margins
You’re being too kind
I don’t know what kind of human being he is
As an owner, he’s a scumbag and carpetbagger.
Outside of being the cheapest owner in baseball, Nutting is also the owner of 300 newspapers so it’s not like he’s destitute or going bankrupt
When is the last time you or anyone else has purchased a newspaper?
Let’s use an example here. The PG is *still* a newspaper, even though it’s only published in hard copy form once or twice a week.
The average difference between a ‘good’ manager and a ‘bad’ manager is 3 games a year. Even if Sheldon were to be replaced, statistically they’re still under 80 wins.
This will be Shelton’s 5th season as the Manager and as a team they still haven’t reached the .500 mark.
Granted 2020 was a lost year due to Covid, he has yet to improve the offense and he was a hitting coach before being named manager.
The 10 game losing streak last year should have cost him his job
My problem with Shelton isn’t the wins and losses, Rotini Man, because you’re right. Numbers can mislead.
It’s more about him wanting to be Uncle Sheltie. Let’s give guys days off. If they don’t hustle, say nothing.Don’t run out ground balls or pop flies? Go get ‘em tomorrow Cell phone pops out of the back pocket of a baserunner? Kids will be kids. Stand and admire a long fly ball that drops in front of the wall? No biggie. 3rd baseman has a handful of seeds while a ball is coming in from right field? It’s ok
That’s the problem
Few teams are as ok with losing as this one
Few teams have young players that aren’t corrected for lack of hustle, focus or discipline.
Yeah, he’s a hack where putting a line up card together is concerned. He’s clueless in situations where strategy is needed. He consistently fails to put pressure on opposing defenses
But it’s not about just winning
Except that if those obvious things you suggested weren’t a
problem , they probably would have won more games
those Shelton derived scheduled days off are ridiculous.
He has a habit of giving players a day off when they are in the middle of a hot streak
@Man @Mainst.
Both of you have valid points. I’m not pro Shelton in any way. I just think the problems go further up the food chain. Is he part of it? Absolutely. .
last year when it was obvious that Bednar didn’t have his good stuff and Shelton’stil used him as the closer when Chapman was available is an example of Shelton’s style of managing
Shelton is on spectrum. Rest his best players at home instead of road. Bednar was so toast even Paul seen it!!! Kidding Paul. How you doing buddy.
Hall is a really good kid, but should probably head to the NPB to make some money for a few years.
Hope he gets @350 pas to finally see what he can do and -well- be injury free.
Agree with you about the NPB thing. As his age (29 entering ’24) a couple yrs overseas might net him a decent deal in MLB instead of a non roster invite?
I saw a decent amount of him in LHV, and frankly always considered him to be org depth. Obvious power, but just the one tool. I was rather amazed at that brief torrid stretch when he had to pick up the slack for Bryce’s injury but never seriously considered him to be anything but a AAAA type.
Maybe he can refine the hit tool and plate approach enough in the NPB to have a few years as a viable platoon 1B / DH before it is time to become a coach. ; )
Gotta go through Pittsburgh first before you head over seas
Mr. Triple A
Dylan Cozens Jr
Carrying the torch passed by Tommy Joseph and Dylan Cozens admirably.
This is a very good signing.If he makes it big it will be a lot cheaper than giving up Jones in a Casas deal.
The Pirates have not had a power presence since Pedro Alvarez.
well, they certainly have a strikeout presence having set the franchise record last season with over 1500
And before someone says every player strikes out, as a team, they were near the bottom in runs scored
This team needs a run producer not endless minor league signings
Thanks, Mendoza. I blew coffee through my nose after reading your first sentence
Walker. Bellinger. Goldschmidt. Alonso all play first at a high level
But for the Pirates, this is a good signing.
What a pathetic owner this is
Hall drew 2 walks and struck out 48 times last year with the Phillies.
This team has more than enough players who can’t get on base
Always dumpster diving for the league minimum
He’ll fit right into this lineup
Worse than that Paul. So bad he didn’t even play in mlb last year. But year before 18 not 48.
Mr- It’s a minor league signing with power upside.
Are you going to ever quit complaining that they aren’t signing Walker,or Goldschmidt or Bellinger?
Do you think any of them want to play here or in New York?
They aren’t.Never.
Or do you just complain because you can?
They traded for a young good hitting first baseman and only gave up your man Ortiz.
We’ll see who turns out better this coming year.
As long as teams from similar size markets sign and subsequently compete, the answer is no. Never. The big news for the Pirates this season has been Cutch re-upping and the news that the plaza next to PNC—owned by Nutting—will be open in time for the start of the season. You’re right. Why complain?
Feel free to mute or ignore me if you prefer Pollyanna. Maybe if you hold your breath and click your heels together three times, one of these “good signings” will do something here in Pittsburgh before heading off to Asia, which is the custom
Yes. We’ll see who turns out better, as we have the past few seasons. How funny it is that only on the Pirates threads can you find people excited about guys who’ve struggled at the MLB level and are now heading here
I’d just find a new team. Complain away though. Nutting isn’t paying and massively over paying 25m a year multiple years for a freaking 1b. Goldschmidt would be cheaper and shorter but he doesn’t want to play for a loser.
That’s why I am a Pirates fan. They don’t make awful moves like these. Horowitz was a smart trade. If Nutting wants to spend $ he can extend Cruz Skenes.
This organization is a freaking disgrace.
Faithfully submitted,
Lifelong Pirates Fan
welcome to my world, SteveM7
Loyal fan since 1966, and a one time 30 year season ticket holder
Right there with you, Steve.
My dad used to take us to Forbes Field
It’s funny. I didn’t think it could get any worse from the drug trial years or the McClatchy era
I was wrong
Darick Hall’s power potential makes him an intriguing signing for the Pirates, even if his path to playing time is crowded. Over 142 MLB plate appearances in 2022, he posted an impressive .522 slugging percentage, hinting at the kind of impact bat teams value. However, his struggles in 2023 (.167/.196/.241 in the majors) and a lackluster .387 slugging percentage at Triple-A last season show he’ll need a strong Spring Training to crack the roster. While his first-base-only profile limits flexibility, Hall’s raw power could make him a solid depth option, especially if injuries open up opportunities in Pittsburgh’s lineup.
Signing Hall is not a bad move for the Pirates. It might even be a sneaky good one.
Signing Hall and doing absolutely nothing else since the questionable trade for Horwitz is not only ample reason to complain, but possible reason to lead a torchlight protest down Federal Street.
Like Horwitz, Hall will likely be remembered as Tellez, Santana and Choi are, come this time next year
Hannibal said it well (above). It’s truly shocking that Cherington looked around, saw a very good starting pitching staff coming into focus, and instead of signing one or two mid-tier, solid bats, did nothing
I give it a couple months until Nutting makes his annual “Losing is unacceptable” speech. Truth is, perpetuating the small market/low budget myth is more important than opening the checkbook
Pathetic
The President of Baseball Operations already made the claim that their only goal was putting a winning team on the field
He must have been talking about a minor league team, because it’s certainly not the Pirates who he was referring to
Santana was good. And fetched a good prospect that won’t be developed.
He hit a few homers. One was memorable. He hit somewhere around .240. Good glove, but not a reliable weapon at the plate
And just got 12.5 million or 12 or something from a team much much much ….. Smarter than Pittsburg. Same player now as he was in 2023
A+ A lot to like.
Bad news Mets interested in Winker. Have to depend on Cherington to be creative. Or #JackIsBack