The Pittsburgh Pirates today acquired outfielder Bryce Brentz from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for cash considerations. The announcement was made by Executive Vice President, General Manager Neal Huntington.
The 29-year-old Brentz spent the entire 2017 season with Triple-A Pawtucket, where he hit .271 with 31 home runs and 85 RBI in 120 games. He established a career high in home runs, which also ranked tied for fifth in all of minor league baseball in 2017. Brentz was a mid-and post-season International League All-Star last season and captured the Triple-A Home Run Derby title.
Brentz made his big league debut with Boston in 2014 and went 8-for-26 (.308) with one RBI in nine games played. He also appeared in 25 games for the Sox in 2016 and hit .279 (17-for-61) with three doubles, a home run and seven RBI. In his Major League career, Brentz has made a total of 28 appearances (22 starts) in left field and two appearances (one start) in right field.
The right-handed hitting Brentz was selected 36th overall in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft by Boston as a supplemental round selection. Since making his professional debut in 2010, he has averaged 28.7 home runs per
162 games played (127 homers in 716 games), including 30-plus homer seasons
in both 2011 and 2017.
To make room for Brentz on the 40-man roster, the Pirates have placed right-handed pitcher Nick Burdi on the 60-day disabled list.