6-15-23 By Craig W. Toth (aka @BucsBasement on Twitter)
Each and every week of the Minor League Season I pull out my notebook and write down the Pirates Prospects that I am considering as the Top 5 Prospects in the Pirates Farm System for the previous week. Like, literally write them down with a pencil on a piece of paper.
Yesterday and today for some reason I decided to look over each of the previous weeks’ candidates to see if I was missing something; because it sure seemed as if my hand was just methodically writing down the same names over and over again.
Solometo, Jones, Terrero, Cheng, Harrington appeared so often that I had to do another double-take. Sure, other familiar names like Davis, Priester and Pegeuro were sprinkled in; with the occasional Shackelford, Massey and Triolo. Still, these often appeared below aforementioned regulars.
As the season progresses I am positive that others will join them-especially as the Florida Complex and Dominican Summer Leagues get into full swing-along with players that may have gotten off to slow starts for one reason or another.
It simply struck me as odd that there wasn’t much room for an internal back-and-forth during the process.
The answers were fairly easy, and there weren’t really many other options.
This is obviously not meant to downplay the performances these prospects have put on, at this point in the season.
Maybe it’s more of an indictment of the overall state of the system. Although, I’m not ready to go that far just yet.
For now, let’s make note of it; or put it a pin in it, to address at a later date. Especially if my pencil keeps writing down the same names; and, they down have anyone forcing the debate.
1) Anthony Solometo-LHP (Greensboro)
There’s really nothing more to say about the young man, other than the fact that he’s looked really good all year.
On the year he has a 2.30 ERA with a 1.16 WHIP and 68 strikeouts in just under 59 innings of work. Plus, he has only allowed 2 homers thus far; in spite of the many hitter friendly ballparks in the South Atlantic League.
And, now he is being ramped up to take on two starts a week. A challenge that he has faced head on.
On the week he tossed 10 scoreless innings, walked only one batter and struck out 11; including 7 in his second outing on Sunday.
2) Tsung-Che Cheng-SS/2B (Greensboro)
At this point, I’m not sure how much of Cheng’s game we can even chalk up to the bandbox effect that exists while players don the green and orange uniforms of the team from Greensboro.
He merely seems to be playing at a whole other level.
On the season-across 217 plate appearances-Cheng is slashing .307/.418/.567 with a 170wRC+ and a very impressive 15.6% BB to 16.1% K-rate.
Naturally some of this power will most likely go away once he arrives in Altoona; but, I wouldn’t expect the approach at the plate to go anywhere.
3) Jared Jones-RHP (Altoona)
Jones had his best start-since returning from a brief IL stint-this past week; taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning, before surrendering a homer to end his bid.
On the season he now boasts a 2.21 ERA with a 0.98 WHIP and 41 Ks in almost as many innings. However, the biggest development has been his continual drop in free passes at every level throughout the system; going from 4.64 per 9 in Bradenton to 3.74 with the Grasshoppers, and finally 2.88 in a Curve uniform.
Recently positioned in the Top 100 Prospects according to Baseball America, Jones has as high of a ceiling as any pitcher in the Pirates System.
4) Enmanuel Terrero-OF (Bradenton)
One of the potentially surprising regular additions to the Pirates Top 5 this season has been Terrero. On a team that was supposed to be stacked with players like Termarr Johnson, Javier Rivas, Alexander Mojica, Thomas Harrington, Shalin Polanco and Owen Kellington-among others-Terrero seemed to get lost in the shuffle.
Nevertheless, as we know now, this didn’t last very long.
Over the first month of the season, Terrero batted .319 with a .950 OPS, 2 homers and six stolen bases. After a dip in the month of May-.271 AVG and a .686 OPS-he has caught fire again to the tune of a .367 AVG and .958 OPS.
On the season he is currently slashing .304/.406/.424 with 13 stolen bases, 2 homers and a 136 wRC+ at just 20 years old.
With promotions likely coming throughout the season in the coming month(s), I would think that Terrero may be passed over this time around; however, I wouldn’t rule out a cup of High-A coffee toward the end of the year.
5) Jack Brannigan-3B (Bradenton)
Drafted as a two-way player out of the University of Notre Dame in the third round of last year’s draft, Brannigan voiced the desire to play the field; as opposed to going straight to the bullpen due to his success in the Cape-28 strikeouts in 14.2 innings
In the end the Pirates have given him the chance mostly because of his defense and near elite arm. Although, for the moment they are also benefiting from his bat.
During the past week Brannigan smashed 4 homers and a double on the way to an OPS of 1.271.
Even so, his slash line still sits at just .233/.400/.477 on the season; at a level where he almost a full year older than the competition.
Which means, if he wants to keep himself off the mound, he is going to have keep this up.
Conclusion
There you have it! My Top 5 Pirates Prospect Performers for the second week of June 2023; a couple days late.
Now remember, let me know if I missed anyone, and who your Top 5 would be. And, be sure check back each and every Tuesday-ish during Minor League Baseball Season; which could definitely be true next week. Starting Saturday I will be up on the Allegheny River-with all of the fam-and, I’m not sure what the WiFi situation is.
Editor’s Note: Of course when you fall behind, news creeps up on you. At least this time it is positive; and very well deserved.
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