The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired relief pitcher Camilo Doval from the New York Yankees for two minor league prospects, the team announced Saturday. New York will be getting back outfielder Luis Cruz and catcher/first baseman Omar Alfonzo in the deal, which was first reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
Alfonzo was Pittsburgh’s No. 17 prospect, per MLB.com. Cruz was not ranked in the top 30 for the organization.
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Doval has made 44 appearances for the Yankees this season. He takes a 3-1 record and a 4.54 ERA with him to Pittsburgh.
Doval is known for a plus fastball and has struck out 39 batters in 39 2/3 innings this year. This season, the right-handed reliever has been featuring his sinker most often. Doval has leaned on a sinker, cutter and slider as his three main pitches this year, per Baseball Savant.
The reliever has a changeup, but has thrown it just 23 times this season (3.4%), and it has largely been out of the zone.
Pittsburgh needed a boost to its bullpen at the trade deadline. The Pirates’ pen has registered 24 of the team’s 56 losses this season, the fifth-most in MLB. Pittsburgh also has the sixth-most blown saves this year.
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New York gets back two unproven prospects. Cruz is 18 years old and can play all three outfield positions. Alfonzo, 22, has split time between being a catcher and a first baseman.
Cruz has made it to only the rookie fall league with Pittsburgh’s Black and Gold teams the last two seasons. This year, he has played in 17 games and is slashing .313/.460/.396 with seven RBI.
Alfonzo has been on the rise through the Pirates’ minor league system this year. He started out in rookie ball, but also played a game in Single-A before spending the majority of the year in Double-A.
The catcher/first baseman has played in 60 games at the Double-A level and is slashing .238/.337/.419 with nine home runs and 35 RBI. He will turn 23 in August.
