One of the Pittsburgh Pirates top signings during the 2019-20 international signing period has signed to play winter ball in Australia this year. Solomon Maguire, who agreed to a $594,000 bonus back in February, will play for the Sydney Blue Sox this winter. The ABL season begins in mid-December and runs through late January, with playoffs to follow. The 24-game schedule is abbreviated this winter (summer if you’re in Australia).
Maguire turned 17 back in March, one month after signing with the Pirates. The Pirates originally offered him their entire remaining bonus pool to sign and they were turned down, so they needed to acquire international bonus pool space in the Starling Marte trade to get the deal done with Maguire. His bonus was just $6,000 under the highest bonus that the Pirates handed out to a position player (Enmanuel Terrero) during the 2019-20 signing period.
According to the scouting reports, Maguire is listed at 5’11”, 167 pounds. He’s very athletic, with potential for multiple plus tools. He has above average bat speed, power potential, plus speed and a strong arm. Since he was still in school at the time of signing, he has yet to spend any time with the Pirates. That likely won’t happen until the 2021 minor league Spring Training starts next March.
We will have daily winter league updates for Pittsburgh Pirates players here as soon as the schedules start, which is usually around the middle of October.
