Jose Pirela began his career with the New York Yankees before finally emerging last season with the San Diego Padres. Signed as a sixteen-year-old out of Valera, Venezuela, Pirela was originally projected to become a stud second-baseman.
The Yanks already had perennial All-Star Robinson Cano cemented in his place as the starting second-bagger, so they tried Pirela out at the corner-outfield positions. Once Cano had left for Seattle, Pirela began seeing his opportunity to shine getting closer on the horizon.
Jose Pirela was not producing as some in the New York front-office had hoped he would, still splitting time between the infield and the outfield.