PITTSBURGH — The Pirates signed six minor league free agents, Baseball America Reports, Catchers Milver Reyes, Wyatt Toregas, second baseman Keoni DeRenne, third baseman Vince Harrison, outfielders Jason Cooper and Michael Ryan.
Reyes and Toregas re-signed with the Pirates organization.
Reyes, 29, signed with Pittsburgh in 1999 as an international free agent as was a coach with the High-A Bradenton Marauders during the 2011 season.
Wyatt, 29, batted .133 in 22 games with Triple-A Indianapolis last year with three doubles, eight RBI and four walks. Wyatt had a short stint in the Majors with the Pirates in 2011. He had four at-bats over three games where he went hitless with a strikeout.
DeRenne, 32, did not play in 2011. He spent the 2010 season with the Philadelphia Phillies organization where he went 40-for-154 (.260 avg) with 10 doubles and 15 RBI in 57 games. DeRenne will serve as a coach for the 2012 season.
Harrison, 31, played the last three seasons in Independent ball. Harrison, who is the brother of the Pirates rookie infielder Josh Harrison, hit .327 with 23 doubles, 10 home runs and 61 RBI in 115 games with the York Atlantic League in 2011. Harrison will serve as a coach for the 2012 season.
Cooper, 31, played Independent ball with the St. Paul American Association in 2011. He hit .284 in 99 games with 21 doubles, two triples, nine home runs and 68 RBI.
Ryan, 34, did not play during the 2011 season. He is currently on the roster for winter ball with the Leones del Caracas but has not yet played.
Notes:
- Baseball America also reports that infielder Steve Pearce has elected free agency. Pearce, who was eligible for super-two status and out righted to Triple-A on October 31st, had a frustrating 2011 season after landing on the disabled list twice with a calf injury and a broken finger. Pearce batted .202 with one homer, two doubles and seven RBI in 50 games with the Pirates this season. He was drafted by Pittsburgh in the 8th round of the 2005 draft.
- Pitcher Donnie Veal, who the Pirates acquired from the Chicago Cubs in the 2008 Rule 5 Draft, signed a minor league deal with the Chicago White Sox on Thursday. Veal, 27, is coming back from Tommy John surgery and also arm fatigue which limited his appearances in 2011. Veal made 19 appearances with High-A, Double-A and Triple-A where he allowed 15 runs on 32 hits over 32.0 innings.
Photo credit: MILB
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