The final price tag for the Pirates' haul at the non-waiver deadline became official Friday, when they traded third baseman Sherten Apostel to the Rangers to complete the Keone Kela deal.
Apostel, a 19-year-old native of Curacao, was batting .259 with a .866 OPS for short-season Bristol after playing in the Dominican Summer League in 2017. Left-handed starting pitcher Taylor Hearn was the first player included in the deal and has allowed seven earned runs in 10 innings for the Rangers' Double-A affiliate.
The announcement came three days after the Pirates sent starting pitcher Shane Baz, a first-round draft pick last summer, to the Rays to complete the Chris Archer trade. The Pirates also parted with Tyler Glasnow and Austin Meadows to land the frontline starter.
Apostel, whose younger brother, Shendrik, is with the Dominican Summer League Pirates, was not ranked among the club's top 30 prospects after his breakout season in 2017. The 6-foot-4 right-handed hitter batted .258 with a .917 OPS, nine home runs and 48 RBIs in 61 games. He was named to Baseball America's Dominican Summer League All-Star team and elevated to Bristol following extended spring training this season.
Apostel spent most of this season as Bristol's cleanup hitter and hit seven home runs with 26 RBIs. He also committed 17 errors in 113 chances at third base. Hearn, acquired along with Felipe Vazquez in the Mark Melancon trade two years ago, allowed six earned runs in 4 2/3 innings during his last start with Double-A Frisco.
He had 106 strikeouts in 87 1/3 innings for High-A Bradenton last season and excelled upon joining Double-A Altoona this spring, striking out 107 in 104 innings while posting a 1.09 WHIP. Kela, meanwhile, has allowed one earned run — a solo home run by the Twins' Bobby Wilson — in six innings since joining the Pirates. The right-hander converted each of his first 24 save opportunities with the Rangers and is under contract for two more seasons.