Part 4 - The 2015 New York-Penn League Champion West Virginia Black Bears - Where are they now?

2015 NYPL Championship Ring

The West Virginia Black Bears won the 2015 New York-Penn League Championship in their first season after the franchise relocated from Jamestown, New York. Forty-five Pirates prospects were part of the championship season. Here’s part four of five articles taking a look at what happened to everyone who played on that team. Click on their names to link to their stats at MiLB.com.

Ryan Nagle played in 111 games with the Class A West Virginia Power (South Atlantic League) in 2016 (.247/.310/.318). Currently at extended spring training in Bradenton.

Ryan Nagle, 2016

Dovydas Neverauskas pitched in one game for the Black Bears in 2015 during a rehab assignment. Started the 2016 season with AA Altoona Curve (Eastern League) before being promoted to AAA Indianapolis Indians (International League) on June 15. Began the 2017 at Indianapolis and had a brief stint with the Pittsburgh Pirates (April 24-26) before returning to Indianapolis. 

Dovydas Neverauskas, 2015

 Kevin Newman was the first round draft pick by the Pirates in 2015. He was promoted to the West Virginia Power on August 9, 2015 after hitting .226/.281/.340 in 38 games with the Black Bears. Played in 41 games with the Bradenton Marauders (.366/.428/.494) in the Florida State League in 2016. Promoted to the Altoona Curve on June 18, 2016. Played in 61 games with the Curve (.288/.361/.378). He was a non-roster invitee to the Pirates 2017 Spring Training. Newman is playing for the Altoona Curve this season and is hitting .248/.309/.336.

Ryan Newman, 2015

Andy Otamendi, 2015

Andy Otamendi appeared in seven games for the Black Bears in 2015 before being promoted the Bradenton Marauders on July 23, where he pitched in 25 games. Released by the Pittsburgh Pirates organization on June 20, 2016 .

Juan Luis Paula pitched for the Bristol Pirates in the Appalachian League (Rookie) and the Black Bears in 2016, before being released by the Pittsburgh Pirates organization on December 21, 2016.

Logan Ratledge played in 85 games for the West Virginia Power in 2016, before being assigned to the Bradenton Marauders on August 31, and appeared in two games for the Marauders. Began the 2017 with the West Virginia Power and was promoted to the Bradenton Marauders on May 8. Currently hitting .276/.371/.345 at Bradenton.

Luis Paula, 2015

Logan Ratledge, 2016

Cesilio Pimentel pitched in 29 games for the West Virginia in 2016. Selected by the Atlanta Braves from the Pittsburgh Pirates in the Rule 5 minor league draft on December 8, 2016. Pimentel was released by the Atlanta Braves on April 1, 2017. He is currently on the roster of the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks in the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball.

Cesilio Pimentel

Maximo Rivera, 2015

Maximo Rivera was released by the Pittsburgh Pirates organization on November 6, 2015.










Next up: Part 5, Santana to Zamora

Photo Credits: MiLB.com

The Stedler Report is not affiliated with Minor League Baseball or the New York-Penn League