PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Just days ago it was one of the deepest parts of their organization, now the Pirates traded to add a catcher on Wednesday.
Bucs acquire 31-year-old Brett Sullivan from San Diego for 29-year-old AAA outfielder Bryce Johnson. A switch-hitter, Johnson played in 47 games with the Padres last year and now goes back to San Diego along with cash considerations. Johnson was 2 for 25 (.080 average) in nine games with Indianapolis with one RBI.
Sullivan is a left-handed hitter and was 9 for 39 in 10 games with the Padres AAA team in El Paso with a double, triple and nine RBIs. This season along with catching he’s played at third base, left field and was a designated hitter twice. He has played five games at first base, three at AAA and two with the Padres, where he has played 40 career MLB games over the last two seasons (.206 with two home runs).
The California native is 5’11”, 195 pounds and originally a 17th round pick of the Rays in 2015 out of the University of the Pacific. Last year in AAA, Sullivan hit .263 with 25 doubles and 17 home runs with a .347 on-base percentage and .831 OPS.