Pittsburgh Pirates Announce Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Year

The Pittsburgh Pirates handed out some awards of Saturday afternoon

On Saturday afternoon the Pittsburgh Pirates announced their Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Year. Outfielder Jordan Luplow was named the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Minor League Player of the Year. Meanwhile, left-handed starting pitcher Steven Brault was named the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year.

Neither of these awards are a surprise and both are well deserved.

Jordan Luplow started the year at Double-A Altoona where he hit 16 home runs, posted a .368 on-base percentage, and he owned a .396 wOBA and a 147 wRC+. This performance earned Luplow a promotion to Triple-A Indianapolis. With the Indians, Luplow owned a .401 on-base percentage, .404 wOBA, and a 156 wRC+ while hitting seven home runs.

The minor league performance of Jordan Luplow earned him his first career promotion to the Major Leagues. At the Major Leauge level this season Luplow owns a .257 on-base percentage, .259 wOBA, a wRC+ of 56, and he has hit two home runs in 70 plate appearances.

As for Steven Brault, he was dominant at Triple-A this season. Brault owned a 1.94 ERA, 3.29 FIP, and a 3.81 xFIP at Triple-A. In 120 1/3 innings pitched he averaged 8.15 K/9, 3.29 BB/9, and he allowed just 85 hits and five home runs.

The performance of Steven Brault led to him being named both an International League All-Star, as well as the International League Pitcher of the Year.

In 29 2/3 Major League innings pitched (three starts) this season Brault owns a 4.25 ERA and a 4.03 FIP. Moving forward, Brault should be a big part of the Pirate rotation in 2018. Especially if he keeps to pitch as well as he has in the month of September (2.81 ERA in three starts).

Next: The Importance of Daniel Hudson in 2018

Congratulations to Jordan Luplow and Steven Brault on being named the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Year!