Pittsburgh Pirates: Three Prospects To Keep An Eye On In 2021

Rodolfo Nolasco

Signed out of the Dominican Republic, Rodolfo Nolasco is one of the organization’s outfield prospects that we could see turn into a power hitter in the near future. Nolasco got his professional career off to a good start in 2019.

Through 225 plate appearances during the Dominican Summer League, Nolasco hit .302/.373/.472 with a .405 wOBA and 133 wRC+. Impressively at only 17, Nolasco was putting up a strikeout rate below 15% at just 11.6%.

According to MLB Pipeline, Nolasco is a “ripped and lean and can really impact the ball from the right side of the plate”. Nolasco’s hit tool has been given a 50 future grade by FanGraphs, but is considered to have some solid power. His game power and raw power grades both have a future 55. He also isn’t a slow runner with a current 50 speed grade, and his fielding isn’t bad either. Fangraphs has his fielding at a future of 50 with a stronger arm at 55.

2020 would have been his age 18 season, so Nolasco still has a handful of years to go. FanGraphs, who ranks him as the team’s 19th best prospect, gives him an ETA of 2023. Still, given his talent, he could be a fast-riser through the minors.