Pittsburgh Pirates: Rum Bunter’s Top 10 Prospects

TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 10: Ke'Bryan Hayes #77 of the Pittsburgh Pirates looks on during batting practice prior to the Grapefruit League spring training game against the New York Yankees at Steinbrenner Field on March 10, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 10: Ke'Bryan Hayes #77 of the Pittsburgh Pirates looks on during batting practice prior to the Grapefruit League spring training game against the New York Yankees at Steinbrenner Field on March 10, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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7. Travis Swaggerty

The Pittsburgh Pirates selected the outfielder Travis Swaggerty with the 10th overall pick in the 2018 MLB draft out of the University of Southern Alabama. So far, he’s looked like a solid selection.

Let’s first go over Swaggerty’s best tools. Swaggerty will be a future Gold Glove candidate. He has been given great reviews for his glove work as FanGraphs gives it a future of 60, and his throwing ability from the outfield a grade of 60 as well. He’s also very rangy given his speed. With a 65 speed grade, Swaggerty can cover cavernous areas of outfields with ease.

Though he’s seen as a guy who can be a perennial outfield defender, there have been questions about his hitting ability. Swaggerty did well in his first taste of big league action, hitting .288/.365/.453 with a 140 in his first 158 plate appearances with the West Virginia Black Bears. When he was promoted to the West Virginia Power, he struggled to a .129/.225/.226 line and 35 wRC+, albeit in a small sample size of 71 plate appearances. In 2019, the outfield prospect got off to a slow start in the first half hitting just .221/.318/.329, but caught on fire during the second half to post a .306/.375/.430 line.

Still, Swaggerty put up a solid .265/.347/.381 line, .347 wOBA and impressive 120 wRC+ in 524 plate appearances. He does have more power under the hood as Fangraphs has given his raw power a 60 grade, both presently and in the future. Hit wise, he has a 50 grade with a 50 future game power grade. Swaggerty has shown a decent ability to reach base and combined with his speed, the centerfielder could be the long term lead off guy for the Pittsburgh Pirates.