3-13-24 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X
When it was announced this past off-season that MLB would be holding spring scrimmages strictly involving prospects, it seemed inevitable that the Pirates and Orioles would be two of the teams playing in spotlight games. Both teams have built up their farm system through trades and draft over the past few years with 4 of the past 5 first overall picks. That makes it inevitable that they will face off tonight against each other as the marquee matchup of this Spring Breakout event.
While the Orioles have graduated numerous top prospects over the past few seasons, including Adley Rutschman, Grayson Rodriguez, Gunnar Henderson and Kyle Bradish but still rank as the best (or one of the best) farm systems in baseball. Seven of their top ten prospects are projected to play for the Orioles in 2024, looking to improve a team which won 101 games last season.
The Pirates have had a number of their top prospects debut since this rebuild began: Ke’Bryan Hayes, Oneil Cruz, Henry Davis, Endy Rodriguez, Liover Peguero are among some of the highly touted hitting prospects who have joined the Pirates with varied results. But they have much, MUCH more on the way for the pitching side, and that’s who we’re talking about ahead of the 1979 World Series rematch tonight, 45 years after that last championship for the Bucs.
Paul Skenes
If it hasn’t been announced yet, it should at least come as no surprise that Paul Skenes will be the starting pitcher tonight. Skenes was taken first overall in the 2023 MLB Draft out of Louisiana State University, fresh off leading his team to a College World Series victory and poised to be the best pitching prospect since Stephen Strasburg. His fastball has reached 102 in a spring training game. His slider has made professional hitters look like little leaguers.
The 6’6, 21-year-old and #3 prospect (per MLB Pipeline) pitched all of 6.2 innings of minor league ball last year and will not start the 2024 season in Pittsburgh. But, it likely won’t be long before we see him in the black and gold. The main things the team wants him to work on is getting comfortable with pitching every fifth or sixth day, managing his scheduled workouts between outings and handling the rigorous travel schedule that accompanies this kind of career.
His stuff is legit and the Pirates are not going to mess around with him. He basically just joined the organization from college. He hasn’t pitched more than 2 innings in a game since then. He hasn’t gotten punched in the face (metaphorically) and gotten the chance to punch back in a game. You want to see your future ace face adversity and fight to overcome it. Let it happen in Altoona for a few weeks, have him go to Indianapolis in May and expect a promotion in June during a home-stand so they can appropriately pack PNC.
Anthony Solometo
Currently ranked as the 5th best left-handed pitching prospect, Anthony Solometo has quietly risen through the ranks in the minor leagues providing excellent numbers at each stop following his 2nd round draft in 2021. Armed with a funky delivery which has garnered comps to Madison Bumgarner and Mackenzie Gore, Solometo posted a 2.64 ERA over 47.2 innings at Bradenton in 2022 with a K:BB rate of 51:19 and surrendering zero home runs in a VERY hitter friendly environment. Last year, he flew through A+ ball, surpassing his innings total from the year before by June: 58.2 innings, 68 strikeouts, 25 walks and a 2.30 ERA.
He moved up to Altoona and, after posting shutout outings in 2 of his first 3 starts, started to burnout over the remainder of the season, pitching 51.2 innings with 4.35 ERA mostly due to surrendering 23 earned runs over his final 36.3 innings with 32 strikeouts and an uncharacteristic 11 walks.
His stuff plays up due to his unconventional pitching motion and height providing an above average extension on his stride. He likely was overworked and overextended last year as he struggled down the stretch but looked solid in his 1 inning pitched this spring and will be one to watch – not just in the Breakout game, but all season.
Bubba Chandler
Skenes might have the highest floor but it’s possible that Bubba Chandler, drafted in the 3rd round in 2021 as a two-way player, could have an even higher ceiling. If there’s one prospect who had the biggest mid-season turn-around in 2023, it’s Bubba Chandler.
Passing up a chance to both play quarterback and shortstop/pitcher at Clemson University, Chandler was given some room to try developing as a two-way player in his first year of pro ball. He struggled with the bat, striking out nearly 40% of the time while not providing the power that the team had hope to see. Entering the 2023 season at A+ Greensboro, the organization decided to have him focus solely on pitching. Initially, it didn’t go well.
From the start of the season until July 6th, Chandler pitched in 16 games and compiled a 6.79 ERA in 62.1 innings with 77 strikeouts to 38 walks allowed while surrendering 10 home runs in that span. He admitted later on that the transition to only pitching was a tough one and he struggled to find a routine. Once he did, he was a completely different player.
Bubba took the All-Star break to unplug. He spent some time away from the sport and got himself reset. After that rough start, Chandler would allow 2 or less earned runs in 8 of his final 9 games, good for a 1.66 ERA in 48.2 innings with 51 strikeouts to 13 walks. He even earned a final start to the season with Altoona, pitching 5 shutout innings of 1 hit, 8-strikeout ball.
Chandler has a mid-90s fastball that can reach triple digits and an upper-80s slider with steep drop. He should start the season with the Altoona Curve but he could find himself at PNC Park sooner than later if he can continue his strong second half.
Hunter Barco
It was reported this past week that Thomas Harrington, one of the Pirates top pitching prospects, would be replaced on the Spring Breakout roster after dealing with “shoulder issues,” per team’s director of sports medicine, Todd Tomczyk. While he would have made this list, I want to turn to a pitcher who was drafted with acclaim but whose arrival in pro ball has been derailed while recovering from injury.
The second southpaw on this list, Hunter Barco was selected in the 2nd round of the 2022 draft (44th overall) out of the University of Florida. He was projected as a first rounder early in the college season, however, he tore his UCL after making just 9 starts in his Junior year and required Tommy John surgery in May 2022. He would rehab with the Pirates through the end of the year and debut at the Complex League in July 2023, pitching 7.2 innings over 3 games allowing 4 hits, 2 walks and striking out 9 with a 1.17 ERA. He was promoted to Bradenton and, although the base numbers don’t look great (5.06 ERA, 13 hits in 10.2 innings), he did strikeout 19 batters in that stretch as well.
The important thing last year was refining his throwing motion, which was deceptive but had clear injury concerns that already had come to pass and getting his velocity back. Prior to the injury, Barco was hitting mid-90s with his fastball and he was reaching 92-93 with sink. His low-80s slider is his best secondary weapon and is basically unhittable for left-handed hitters.
If he can get his velocity to tick up a bit closer to his pre-injury level while maintaining his less aggressive pitching motion, Barco could be a name to watch this upcoming season in the lower levels of the system.
David Matoma
Now, for a lesser-known prospect. Matoma was an international signing in January 2023 out of Uganda – the third Ugandan player to ever play baseball state-side. Signed just shy of his 17th birthday, Matoma was reported to be throwing 91-92 on his fastball. Not great but impressive considering the age and build (listed at 6’0/154 lbs). Then, came the jump to the states.
Matoma pitched in 9 games last year – all at rookie ball in the Domincan Summer League – totaling 16.2 innings. He allowed 12 hits, walked 7, struck out 14 and allowed zero runs. His fastball was reportedly topping at 101 MPH in a game, and he just turned 18 last month!
He has some control issues and already appears on a reliever path but there’s a ton of upside for Matoma if his stuff is legit. He likely starts 2024 in the Florida Complex League as the team continues to determine exactly what they have in him with the potential to get into the game tonight.
Check out these pitchers and more as they face off against the prospects of the Baltimore Orioles at 7:05PM tonight.
Steel City Pirates 