Tate Scioneaux is an Emerging Relief Prospect

Double-A Altoona currently possesses an emerging relief pitcher prospect for the Pittsburgh Pirates

The Altoona Curve won the Eastern League Western Division in 2017. Due to this, they will be playing for an Eastern League Championship starting this week. A big reason for the Curve success this season has been a strong bullpen led by Tate Scioneaux.

Tate Scioneaux is a 24-year-old reliever. The Pirates selected the right-handed pitcher in the 39th round of the 2015 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft. The Reserve, Louisiana, native was selected out of Southeastern Louisiana University.

2017 has been Tate Scioneaux’s first season at Double-A and he has been excellent. In 83 innings pitched for Altoona this season he allowed just 67 hits, four home runs, he hit two batters, and he threw a pair of wild pitches. He averaged just 1.63 BB/9 and he whiffed 67 batters (7.27 K/9).

All of this led to Scioneaux owning a 2.39 ERA and a 2.85 FIP in 2017. Scioneaux’s fantastic season will, most likely, lead to him starting the 2018 season with the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians. If not, he should make it to Triple-A sooner rather than later.

Once Tate Scioneaux reaches the Triple-A level he will be just one call away from the Major Leagues. Scioneaux’s best pitch is a mid-to-upper 90s fastball. This fastball is a big reason why he has averaged 8.69 K/9 in 189 1/3 minor league innings. He has also always possessed great control numbers averaging just 1.95 BB/9 in his minor league career.

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You can never have too much pitching in baseball. This is especially true when it comes to bullpen arms. Tate Scioneaux is quickly emerging as a relief pitching prospect for the Pirates. Due to this, he could become a quality bullpen option for the Pirates as soon as the 2018 season. Tate Scioneaux is a name for Pirate fans to keep in mind in 2018.