Austin Hedges, Catcher, Pittsburgh Pirates

Date of Birth: 8/18/1992
Birthplace: San Juan Capistrano, California

Austin Hedges, catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 2011. He played in the Padres' minor league system from 2011 through 2014. During that time, he had 274 hits, 73 doubles, 24 stolen bases, 142 RBIs, and 209 strikeouts to 81 walks in 304 games. Defensively, as a catcher, he made 239 assists, 2,306 putouts, and 43 errors in 285 games. He caught players trying to steal 34 percent of the time.

Hedges joined the Padres for 56 games in 2015. During that time, he batted .168 with 23 hits. As a catcher in 47 games, he made 26 assists, 366 putouts, and 4 errors. He caught players trying to steal 32.7% of the time and he had a .990 fielding percentage.

Hedges spent most of the 2016 season in the minors, playing in just 8 games with the Padres.

Hedges played in 120 games with the Padres in 2017. He finished the season with 83 hits, 17 doubles, 18 home runs, 55 RBIs, 122 strikeouts to 23 walks, and a .214 batting average. Defensively, as the Padres' catcher in 115 games, he made 56 assists, 921 putouts, and 10 errors. He caught players trying to steal 36.6% of the time.

Hedges finished the 2018 season with 70 hits, 14 doubles, 14 home runs, 37 RBIs, 90 strikeouts to 21 walks, and a .231 batting average in 91 games. Defensively, as a catcher in 83 games, he made 34 assists, 748 putouts and 11 errors. He caught players trying to steal 22.4% of the time and he had a .986 fielding percentage. d

Hedges batted .176 in 102 games in 2019. He had 55 hits, 36 RBIs, and 109 strikeouts to 27 walks. Defensively, as a catcher in 95 games, he made 35 assists, 858 putouts, and 11 errors, and he caught players trying to steal 33.3% of the time.

The Padres traded Hedges to the Cleveland Indians on August 31, 2020. He finished the season with 10 hits and a .145 batting average in 35 games.

Hedges finished the 2021 season with 51 hits, 31 RBIs, 87 strikeouts to 15 walks, and a .178 batting average in 88 games. Defensively, as a catcher in 87 games, he made 45 assists, 720 putouts, and 2 errors. He caught players trying to steal 31% of the time.

Hedges became a free agent on November 6, 2022. He signed with the Pirates on December 20th.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Austin Hedges
ESPN - Austin Hedges
Baseball Reference - Austin Hedges