Grant Koch | |
Position: | Catcher |
Team: | Free agent |
Birth Date: | 5 February 1997 |
Birth Place: | Fayetteville, Arkansas, U.S. |
Bats: | Right |
Throws: | Right |
Debutleague: | MLB |
Debutdate: | May 29 |
Debutyear: | 2024 |
Debutteam: | Pittsburgh Pirates |
Statyear: | 2024 season |
Stat1label: | Batting average |
Stat1value: | .000 |
Stat2label: | Home runs |
Stat2value: | 0 |
Stat3label: | Runs batted in |
Stat3value: | 0 |
Teams: |
Grant Koch (born February 5, 1997) is an American professional baseball catcher who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Koch played college baseball at Arkansas from 2016 to 2018.[1]
Koch was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 5th round, with the 144th overall selection, of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft, and signed for a $364,600 signing bonus.[2] He made his professional debut with the Low–A West Virginia Black Bears, hitting .188/.304/.263 with two home runs and 11 RBI over 40 contests.[3]
Koch spent 2019 with the Single–A Greensboro Grasshoppers, playing in 94 games and batting .202/.274/.318 with eight home runs and 34 RBI.[4] He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[5] Koch returned to action in 2021 with Greensboro and the Double–A Altoona Curve, accumulating a .178/.259/.348 slash line with 10 home runs and 36 RBI across 70 games.[6]
Koch split the 2022 campaign between Altoona and the Single–A Bradenton Marauders. In 32 total games, he hit a combined .202/.327/.255 with one home run and eight RBI.[7] Koch spent the 2023 season with the Triple–A Indianapolis Indians, hitting .255/.318/.391 with five home runs and 23 RBI.[8]
Koch began the 2024 season with the Triple–A Indianapolis Indians, hitting .167/.211/.259 with one home run and five RBI across 17 games. On May 28, 2024, Koch was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[9] In three games for the Pirates, he went 0–for–7 with one walk. On June 4, Koch was designated for assignment by Pittsburgh.[10] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Indianapolis on June 6.[11] On November 6, he elected free agency.[12]