Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Best Pitching Tools in the System

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FORT MYERS, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 29: A general view during the spring training game between the Minnesota Twins and the Pittsburgh Pirates at Century Link Sports Complex on February 29, 2020 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

Change Up – Quinn Priester

MLB Pipeline: 50

FanGraphs: 45, Future 55

Quinn Priester was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1st round of the 2019 draft. The 19-year-old only threw 36.2 innings (32.2 innings from Rookie Ball Bristol, 4 at short-season West Virginia), but did pretty good in those few innings.

He surrendered just 13 earned runs, and issued just 14 walks to go with 41 strikeouts. Four of those walks, however, came in the very short amount of time he spent at short-season West Virginia last year. However, the most impressive part was his home run rate. Of the 32 hits he gave up, only one left the ballpark. Overall, he carried a strong 2.83 FIP.

Although he has the best change up among Pirate prospects, it’s not his best pitch. That would be his fastball. He carries a four-seamer and two-seamer. His four-seam fastball sits in the mid-90s, and can reel back for more heat. His two-seam fastball sits in the low-90s, which is what got most of his ground balls on. His curveball is also very strong, having a 60 grade by MLB Pipeline and 55 future grade by FanGraphs.

For more info on Priester, make sure to check out Cody’s ‘A Day in a the Life of a Minor Leaguer’ piece about Priester. It is a terrific read, and Priester is a very interesting person to get to know better.

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