Pittsburgh Pirates: Rum Bunter’s Top 10 Prospects

The Pittsburgh Pirates own a strong farm system. Here at Rum Bunter, we decided to rank who believe are the top 10 prospects in the organization entering the 2020 offseason.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have a very strong farm system. FanGraphs currently ranks their farm sysytem as the 4th best in baseball. Per FanGraphs’s list, the Pittsburgh Pirates have 6, top 100 prospects. As a small market team, they have to rely on the development of players through drafting, and signing internationally. Here at Rum Bunter, we took a poll among our writers to see who we feel are the organization’s top 10 prospects.

Our polling system worked like this. Each slot was given a point value. The number 1 was worth 10 points, the 2nd spot was worth 9 points, the 3rd spot was worth 8 points, and so on. Our writers also had the optional vote of an 11th prospect with that spot being worth a half point. We saw this as a fair way to give another prospect some recognition with Ke’Bryan Hayes already in the Majors.

Before we get into our top 10, there were bound to be a handful of players who got votes, but not enough to crack our top 10. Here are our honorable mentions listed from the least votes to the most votes:

Infielder Rodolfo Castro

Rodolfo Castro has flashed some decent pop, and runs well. He doesn’t hit for much average, nor does he walk a lot, but his ability to play essentially any infield spot besides pitcher and catcher adds some value. He’s still just 21 and showed the ability to hit for some average in his first 2 pro seasons, so there’s room for improvement.

Outfielder Rodolfo Nolasco

A 2018 international free agent, Rodolfo Nolasco has the body that would project a power hitter. He also struck out just 11.6% of the time in his 225 plate appearance stint at Rookie-Ball. He just turned 19 about a month ago, so be on the lookout for Nolasco to rise through the ranks in the next few seasons.

Pitcher Carmen Mlodzinski

The Pirates selected Carmen Mlodzinski with the 31st overall pick in the 2020 draft. A hard throwing right hander, Mlodzinski has a nice fastball-slider combo to go with a solid change up. He has also been given solid grades for his command.

First Baseman Mason Martin

Mason Martin has elite power as he blasted 35 home runs, put up a .558 slugging percentage and .304 isolated slugging at Greenboro and Bradenton in 2019. Martin has 60+ grades for both his game and raw power. Though he walks a lot, Martin does strike out a fair amount as well. Regardless, he could be one of the Pirates’ next elite power threats.

Outfielder Jared Oliva

Jared Oliva has shown he can hit for average and get on base in the past two seasons, posting a BA around the .275 mark and OBP in the .350s. What makes him even more deadly is that he has stolen 33 and 36 bases in 2018 and 2019. He is also a decent fielder, so expect him to be leading things off for the Bucs in the next season or so.

10. Cody Bolton

Starting the list off at number 10 we have right handed pitcher Cody Bolton. After being drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 6th round of the 2017 MLB Draft, Bolton has steadily been climbing his way up through the minor leagues.

In his first professional season, Bolton pitched solid through his first 25.2 innings. At Rookie-Ball, the right hander had a 3.16 ERA, 3.15 FIP and 1.21 WHIP. He also posted a 3.31 xFIP. Bolton didn’t get many strikeouts with a 20.4% strikeout rate, but did have a 7.4% walk rate and HR/9 of just 0.35.

The following year, Bolton made his way to West Virginia. Though he did see his ERA, FIP and HR/9 rise to 3.65, 3.74 and 1.20, Bolton saw his strikeout rate jump to 25.1% and his walk rate drop to just 3.9%.

The first half of 2019 is what put Bolton on prospect boards. Through 61.2 innings at High-A Bradenton, the right hander tossed 61.2 innings posting a 1.61 ERA, 1.91 FIP and 0.85 WHIP. To go with that, Bolton saw his strikeout rate take yet another leap forward to 28.9% and his walk rate remain at a strong 5.9%. He also surrendered just one home run.

This all helped him put up a 2.46 xFIP. Bolton did struggle when he was promoted to Double-A. However, it was only 40 innings, and he did spend some time on the injured list throughout the season with a pair of 7-day injured list stints.

Bolton uses three pitches. His fastball sits in the 92-95 MPH range, and he can touch the high-90s with it. Not only can he throw it fairly hard, he can also put a decent amount of spin on it. He averaged 2450 RPM in 2019, which would have sat somewhere in the top 85th-88th percentile in baseball last year. FanGraphs gives the pitch a 55 current and future grade. It’s not his best pitch though. His slider has a 55 current but 60 future grade as it has 2600 RPM. His third offering is a change up, which sits at a 45 current grade but has a future of 50.

9. Ji-Hwan Bae

Infielder Ji-Hwan Bae was acquired by th e Pittsburgh Pirates after the Atlanta Braves were forced to release a handful of their international prospects as former general manager John Coppollea was involved in a scandal with fraudulent international signings in 2017. When Bae was released, the Bucs swooped in to sign the South Korean prospect.

Bae got his first big taste of professional baseball last year at just age 19. Through 380 plate appearances, Bae was a very effective lead off hitter. He hit .323/.403/.430 with a 145 wRC+ and .384 wOBA. Bae’s ability to get on base was even more of a weapon considering how great of a baserunner he was. Bae stole 31 bags in 42 attempts. He also walked 11.3% of the time.

Bae’s best tool is his speed. FanGraphs gives it a 65 current and future grade. That currently ranks as one of the highest in the Pirate farm system behind Sergio Campana (80) and Anthony Alford (70). Bae also has a solid hit tool with a future of 55.

Currently, Bae has seen time at second base and shortstop. He’s been given solid but not unimpressive grades with a 50 future grade. He does have a better arm with a 55 future grade there. Bae is athletic enough to play a position like centerfield in the future. His worst tool is his power. Both his game power and raw power have future grades below 50.

The only issue Bae had in 2019 was off the field as he was involved in a domestic abuse case from his high school years. The speedy prospect was suspended 30 games without pay. However, if he can keep out of trouble off the field, he could be a really good lead off hitter for the Pittbsurgh Pirates in the coming years.

8. Brennan Malone

Last offseason, the Pittsburgh Pirates traded longtime outfielder Starling Marte to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Although he wasn’t the centerpiece of the deal heading back to Pittsburgh, right handed pitcher Brennan Malone is still a strong prospect.

Malone was drafted out of IMG Academy in Florida. Going into the draft, FanGraphs ranked the right hander as the 23rd best draft prospect, and MLB Pipeline ranked him at the 20th spot. However, both sources ranked him as the 6th best right handed player available in the draft.

Despite being ranked in the top 20-25 draft prospects and being ranked as one of the best high school arms available, Malone was selected with the 33rd overall pick in the draft due to signing bonus concerns. However, Malone might be one of the most underrated prospects the Pittsburgh Pirates have.

The big right hander, who stands at 6’4, 205 pounds, has a big fastball. Though it sits in the 92-96 MPH range, he’s been clocked at 99 MPH before. With 2300 RPM on it, the pitch is seen as one that could be elite. FanGraphs gives it a future of 60, but MLB Pipeline gives it an even better 65 grade.

His slider is another pitch with elite potential. It also has 2300 RPM, and FanGraphs gives it a 55 future. However both MLB Pipeline and Baseball Prospectus are in agreement that it could be another 60-grade pitch.

His third offering is a curveball. According to Prospectus, it has very good 12-6 movement. FanGraphs gives it a 55 future grade. It sits in the mid-70 MPH range, which makes it a nice change of pace for Malone. As for his fourth pitch, he will occasionally throw a change up, but make no mistake, it’s not a pitch to be slept on. Fangraphs gives it a 50 future grade, as well as Pipeline. What makes it even better is that he can control all of them with a 50 future command grade.

With four average or better pitches that he has relatively good control over, Malone has the stuff to be an ace. Very few pitchers have three average plus pitches, but Malone has four. He can go to any of his options at any time, and with solid speed differentials, he has the ability to get a lot of swings and misses.

6. Quinn Priester

Not only did the Pittsburgh Pirates get Malone, a top rated high school arm, out of the first-round of the 2019 draft through trade, but their selection, Quinn Priester was one of the other top rated high school arms in the draft last year as well.

FanGraphs ranked Priester as the 17th best draft prospect, but the third best pitcher available. MLB Pipeline ranked the right hander as the 19th best selection, but had him as the 7th best pitcher available. The Pittsburgh Pirates seemed to agree with both sources as he was selected with the 18th pick in the draft, and the 4th pitcher taken.

Priester did well given his first taste of professional action. At the Gulf Coast League, Priester put up a 3.03 ERA, a 2.92 FIP and 1.19 WHIP in his first 32.2 innings. Impressively, Priester only allowed a 7.1% walk rate and struck batters out above 25% at 26.4%. He also only allowed one home run. Priester’s xFIP in this time was 2.92.

He did appear in one game at Low-A West Virginia and struggled, but again, it was a one game, 4 inning sample size, if you want to even call it that.

Priester works with four pitches, all of which FanGraphs considers as above average. Priester’s fastball sits in the 91-95 MPH range and he can top out at 97 MPH. Though it doesn’t have much spin, Fangraphs sees it as a pitch with 60-grade potential. He also has a two seamer that sits in the lower-90s.

According to MLB Pipeline, his two-seamer could be better than his four-seamer given it’s movement. His breaking pitch is a curveball with a future 55 grade which he can put 2500 RPM. It’s a pitch he can get a lot of swings and misses with, which is something MLB Pipeline takes note of. His fourth pitch is a change up. He hasn’t used it all that much, but Pipeline observed he does have a feel for it, which is one of the reasons Fangraphs gives it a 55 future grade.

5. Tahnaj Thomas

When the Pittsburgh Pirates traded Max Moroff and Jordan Luplow to the Cleveland Indians for Erik Gonzalez, Tahnaj Thomas and Dante Mendoza in the 2018-2019 offseason, many probably didn’t think the Pirates might have just traded for a future ace. However, that just might be the case looking at it today.

Thomas was an international signee by the Indians out of the Bahamas in 2017. Thomas showed lots of raw potential in his first two seasons but he struggled with his control. Thomas’ first 58 professional innings spread between 2018 and 2019 across two different levels of baseball saw the raw talent walk 43 batters. He did strike out 61 and allowed six home runs, but the walks were way up.

That’s when Thomas was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates. In his first season with his new organization, Thomas tossed 48 innings putting up a 3.17 ERA, 3.67 FIP and 1.11 WHIP. He also had a solid 3.49 xFIP showing he was pitching to his skill. The right hander continued to strikeout batters at an impressive rate of 29.5%, and allowed home runs at a 0.9 per 9 rate, but, more notably, his walk rate dropped to just 7%.

Thomas has a very powerful fastball. It has a 70 grade because he averages 92-98 MPH, and can touch triple digits quite often. To pair with his power fastball, Thomas throws a curveball. It sits in the low-to-mid 80s which gives it quite decent speed differentials to his fastball. What makes it so effective is its movement.

FanGraphs gives it a future 60 grade. Although I should note some have also identified his breaking pitch as a slider with wipeout movement, which would still give him a very good secondary pitch. This could mean he has variations of his curveball/slider, which could be very beneficial to the powerful right hander. He recently added it to his arsenal so it only has a current 40 grade by Fangraphs. However, given his raw potential, talent and age (turned 21 in June), he has plenty of time to develop that pitch into an average or better offering.

Many have said that Thomas has closer-like stuff, but he’s stated that he wants to remain in the rotation. If he can stay healthy, and develop his change up into a very usable pitch, he has the ability to be a very underrated starter.

4. Liover Peguero

Earlier we mentioned that when the Pittsburgh Pirates traded Marte to the Arizona Diamondbacks they got back two pieces. The first was Malone, but he wasn’t the headliner in the deal. That title would belong to shortstop prospect Liover Peguero.

Peguero was an international signing by the Diamondbacks out of the Dominican Republic in 2018. His first taste of big league action didn’t go so well. Granted, it was a 161 plate appearance sample size, Peguero slumped to a .259/.331/.340 line between the Dominican Summer League and Arizona League.

Peguero got off to a great start at Rookie-Ball the following season. His next 156 professional plate appearances saw the shortstop hit .364/.410/.559 with a 153 wRC+. Though he wasn’t nearly as effective in the batters box when he was promoted to Low-A, putting up a .262/.333/.357 line, there were still a few positives. For one, Peguero saw his walk rate increase from 7.7% at Rookie-Ball to 8.6% at Low-A. His strikeout rate also trended in the right direction from 21.8% to 18.8%. Having a strikeout rate below 20% before you turn 20 is very impressive. He was also hitting less ground balls, which is another plus.

Peguero’s hit tool is considered his best tool, and it’s an excellent one at that. FanGraphs gives it a future of 60. In terms of base running, he currently has a 60 grade, but a future of 55. Regardless, he seems to know when to run and when not to as he was caught just 2 times in 13 stealing attempts in 2019.

Fielding wise, he’s considered an above average glove with a future 55 grade at short with a strong enough arm to stick there (55 current/future grade). Power wise, Peguero only has a 40 future game power and 50 future raw power grades, but his average exit velo was 90 MPH, showing that when he does make contact, it’s loud contact.

A good MLB comparison might be Jean Segura with better fielding. A guy who’s going to consistently give you a decent batting average, steal a decent amount of bases and give you good defense at short.

3. Nick Gonzales

I think the Pittsburgh Pirates found their next consistent all-star in 2020’s draft when they selected Nick Gonzales with the 7th pick in the draft. Many think the Pirates got a steal with this pick. FanGraphs ranked the middle infielder as the 6th best prospect available, and MLB Pipeline ranked him a spot higher at number five.

Gonzales absolutely mashed in college. Through his three years at New Mexico State University, the first rounder put up numbers that would make Barry Bonds proud. In 596 plate appearances, Gonzales had a .399/.502/.747 line, slammed 37 long balls and ran out 39 doubles. He also showed some speed too with 13 stolen bases in 17 attempts. While yes, he was playing in a hitter friendly environment, you don’t just put up a near .750 slugging, near .350 isolated slugging, walk 15% of the time, and strikeout just 14% of the time only because the conditions were in your favor.

Gonzales has experience at both second base and shortstop. He was playing the ladder position before the 2020 college season was cut short. Though he can play short, he’s a plus defender at second base. Gonzales could be a consistent middle-of-the-order threat for the Pittsburgh Pirates for years to come.

2. Oneil Cruz

Oneil Cruz was acquired by the Pittsburgh Pirates back at the 2017 MLB Trade Deadline when they sent Tony Watson, who was on an expiring contract, to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Angel German and the shortstop prospect.

At the time of the trade, Cruz was a struggling young, but extremely talented prospect. He had done well in 2016 hitting .294/.367/.444 with a 138 wRC+ in his first 211 professional plate appearances at the Dominican Summer League, but had struggled when he was promoted to A-Ball. His next 375 plate appearances saw the slugger hit .240/.293/.342 with a 79 wRC+ with the Dodgers. That’s when he was traded to the Bucs, and things didn’t get off to a hot start with his new team.

But the following season in 2018 is what put Cruz on prospect maps. In 443 plate appearances at Low-A West Virginia, Cruz put up a .283/.343/.488 line with a 143 wRC+ and .365 wOBA. Listed at a towering 6’7, 210 pounds, Cruz put on a power display cranking out 14 home runs and putting up a .201 isolated slugging percentage. He also showed he could run well with 11 stolen bases in 16 attempts.

Cruz started out the next year at High-A Bradenton where he continued to mash. In his next 145 plate appearances, Cruz hit .301/.345/.515. His power kept growing as he put up a .213 isolated slugging and hit 7 home runs. However, Cruz’s season was put on hold when he suffered a fractured right foot which kept him out of play from late April to late June. When Cruz did eventually return he was moved to Double-A. Though he didn’t hit for much power, Cruz saw his walk rate spike to 11%, and his strikeout rate sit at 25% in 136 plate appearances, both career bests.

Cruz has light-tower-power he can generate from his massive frame. FanGraphs gives his game power a 60 future grade, but it’s his raw power that stands out. He’s been given a future 80 grade, the highest possible grade you can get, for that tool. His arm is also beyond elite as it’s also been given an 80 grade as well. Fielding wise, he only has a 45 future, but many see him moving to an outfield spot in the near future. Currently, he has a 60 speed grade, but a future of 45, and his hit tool is only a 40. Still, if he can hit around .270/.340/.550 with 30+ home runs a year, and decent fielding in an outfield spot, he’ll easily be one of the Pirates’ best hitters.

There is just one issue. Cruz was involved in a car crash this fall where he was accused of driving drunk on the opposite side of the road and killing three that were riding a motorcycle with no lights (the motorcycle). Though it seems Cruz’s name has been cleared as there was no evidence of alcohol found in his body, and he was driving his sick and pregnant wife to the hospital, and general manager Ben Cherington fully expecting Cruz to return to Spring Training, the mental stress this put him under had to be immense. Hopefully, he is able to clear his mind and return to mashing baseballs next year.

1. Ke’Bryan Hayes

Yea, no big surprises here. Ke’Bryan Hayes was essentially our unanimous number one prospect. The only writer who didn’t vote Hayes number one was simply because he had already made it to the Majors. Hayes was a first-round selection by the Pittsburgh Pirates back in 2015 as a compensation pick after the Pirates offered a qualifying offer to Russell Martin, who was then signed by the Toronto Blue Jays.

Hayes made his presence known with his elite defense. However, he wasn’t a slouch with the bat either. He made this known in 2017, his first full MLB season, when he hit .278/.345/.363 with a .330 wOBA and 109 wRC+ in his 482 plate appearances at High-A. Following his solid showing at Bradenton, Hayes was moved to Double-A where he put up his best offensive season yet with a .293/.375/.444 line, 129 wRC+ and .369 wOBA.

Hayes did struggle at Triple-A in 2019, hitting just .265/.336/.415 with a 92 wRC+, however he did miss some time with an injury. Hayes hit just .245/.336/.398 in the first half, but .290/.337/.435 in the second half. In all three seasons, Hayes stole at least a dozen bases, with 27 in 2017.

You can’t talk about Hayes without talking about his defense. He might already be considered the best third base fielder in professional baseball. FanGraphs gives Hayes a 70 future fielding grade and 60 future arm grade. He’s one of seven prospects with a future fielding grade of at least 70 and future arm grade of at least 60. No third baseman has put up fielding grades like Hayes since Oakland A’s two-time Platinum Glove winner Matt Chapman, who already has the 6th most defensive runs saved at third base since the stat started to be recorded in 2003.

Hayes made his MLB debut last year and was outstanding hitting .376/.442/.682 with five home runs and a 195 wRC+ in just 95 plate appearances. His offensive explosion on the scene was capped off with a 5-5 performance and a 2-4 performance where at one point he either got a hit or reached via free pass seven straight plate appearances in a row. The Platinum Glove level fielding carried over to the major leagues as he had +4 DRS, 0.5 range runs above average and 0.5 UZR in only 198 innings at the hot corner.

Hayes ended the 2020 season with a future hit grade of 60, which was upgraded from 55 when the season started. Power wise, he only has a future 50 game and raw power grades. But there’s a lot more under the hood than meets the eye. Hayes’ had a 92 MPH average exit velo at Triple-A in 2019, and in 2020 put up an average exit velo of 92.8 MPH. He also made hard contact 55.4% of the time. Had he played enough to qualify last season, his exit velocity would have ranked 15th and his hard hit rate would have ranked 8th in all of baseball.