Three new additions to the Phillies minor league roster. Here are some notes on new free agent signees Ryan Burr, Robinson Pina and Jacob Gonzalez.
RHP Ryan Burr - 29 years old - 2015 5th round draft selection of the Arizona Diamondbacks from Arizona State
He has pitched in the Diamondbacks, Chicago White Sox and Tampa Bay Rays organizations and appeared in 66 major league games with the White Sox from 2018 to 2022 posting a 4.09 ERA in 75 IP with 66 K’s and 39 walks. Last season at AAA level Durham in the Rays system he had a 2-1 record in 18 appearances (23.1 IP) with 23 K’s and 3 walks with a 0.99 WHIP. He features a 95 mph fastball, cutter, slider/curve and sinker. In June 2019, Burr underwent Tommy John surgery. He spent the shortened 2020 season working back into form at the White Sox’s alternate site. He was released by the White Sox in June of 2022 and signed by the Rays. The cutter has hard dropping action and is his primary and best pitch. Burr finished his collegiate career at Arizona State as their all-time saves leader.
RHP Robinson Pina - 25 years old - signed by the Los Angeles Angels 2/15/17 as an international free agent from San Cristobal, Dominican Republic.
He pitched last season at three levels (High A, AA, AAA) in the Angels organization recording an overall ERA of 4.03 in 34 appearances (11 starts) accumulating 97.1 IP with 90 K’s and 55 walks. Over his minor league career he’s appeared in 136 games (80 starts) posting a 4.06 ERA in 481.1 IP with a 1.32 WHIP. He’s pitching in the Dominican Winter League for Estrellas Orientales where he’s appeared in 6 games (5 starts) with a 3.54 ERA in 20.1 IP. He’s a big fella at 6’5”.
Here are a few notes I found on him.
“Pina's fastball sits 93 mph and touches 95 mph with average run. His 84-mph splitter sometimes looks like a straight changeup with a little more depth. Pina also throws an 84-mph curveball with a short break that resembles a slider, but the breaking ball has a tendency to back up on him at times.” - Baseball America
“Pina was past his 18th birthday when the Angels signed him for $50,000 in February 2017. He spent parts of two summers in the Dominican Summer League before getting sent to the United States in 2018, where he saw time in the Arizona and Pioneer Leagues, though almost exclusively in relief. He had a breakout season with a move to full-season ball in 2019, where he earned a Midwest League All-Star nod and finished third in the league in strikeouts.” - MLB notes from 2020
1B Jacob Gonzalez - 25 years old - 2017 San Francisco Giants second round pick from Chaparral High School, Scottsdale, AZ.
He is the son of former major leaguer Luis Gonzalez. Jacob was claimed in the minor league portion of the rule 5 draft by the Pirates in 2021. He played last season in the Pirates organization at the AA level in Altoona where he recorded a .237/.293/.353 slash line with 8 home runs and 44 RBIs and has a career slash line of .260/.329/.387 in 2,304 plate appearances with 48 home runs. He’s a right handed hitter who’s 6’4” and can also play third base and left field.
From a fan’s view welcome to the Phillies fellas!
Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️
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