Pittsburgh Pirates: Top Five Relief Pitching Prospects

The strength of the Pittsburgh Pirates during their 2013-2015 postseason run was their bullpen. When the team is ready to contend again, what could the future of the bullpen look like?

When the Pittsburgh Pirates made the postseason in three straight seasons from 2013-2015 their biggest strength was arguably their bullpen. Guys like Jason Grilli, Mark Melancon, Tony Watson, Jared Hughes, Justin Wilson, Arquimedes Caminero and Antonio Bastardo all had at least one productive season in that three year span. Even more under the radar arms like Vin Mazzaro, Jeanmar Gomez and Joe Blanton were key role-players to securing many victories.

Because of how strong the ‘pen was, they earned the nickname ‘The Shark Tank’. In a few years, the Pittsburgh Pirates, due to their highly ranked farm system, could have a core that will be front runners in the National League Central.

On the position player side of things, the team has Nick Gonzales, Ke’Bryan Hayes, Oneil Cruz, Travis Swaggerty, Mason Martin, Liover Peguero and in the rotation could see Tahnaj Thomas, the highly touted Quinn Priester, Brennan Malone, Carmen Mlodzinski and Cody Bolton, among others.

The Pittsburgh Pirates also have a handful of notable potential bullpen prospects. With the bullpen always being important, let’s take a look at the organization’s five best relief pitching prospects.

Travis MacGregor

The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Travis MacGregor with their 2nd round pick in the 2016 MLB Draft. MacGregor was originally drafted as a starter. So far in his minor league career, he’s started all 38 games he’s pitched  in. However, after undergoing Tommy John surgery, his future is likely be the bullpen. Especially with the plus stuff that MacGregor still possesses.

During the 2018 season, the last time he stepped on a professional mound, MacGregor pitched to the tune of a 3.18 ERA, 3.56 FIP and 1.21 WHIP across 70.2 innings. MacGregor showed some good strikeout stuff, getting 80 of the 302 batters he faced down on strike three. He also only walked 22 batters. His HR/9 was 1.0, which is something you’d like to see lower, but not a bad number in today’s game.

MacGregor works with three pitches including his fastball that sits in the mid-90s. He works in the 91-94 MPH range but tops out at 97 MPH. In terms of spin, he averaged around 2300 RPM. His primary breaking pitch is a slider which grades out around average with a 50-grade on FanGraphs and 2250 RPM. He also has a third pitch, a change up that is considered another 55-grade pitch.

With him coming off Tommy John surgery, the Bucs probably want to limit the right-hander’s workload. Not only would putting him in the pen help his stuff play up, but it would also keep him healthy.

Blake Cederlind

Blake Cederlind put himself on prospect maps with a breakout 2019 season. In 59.1 innings between High-A, Double-A and Triple-A, Cederlind pitched to the tune of a 2.28 ERA, 3.31 FIP and 1.18 WHIP. While he only had a 21.9% strikeout rate and a 9.6% walk rate, Cederlind allowed just 2 home runs. However, six of the 24 walks he surrendered came from 7.2 innings at High-A.

Cederlind’s best pitch is his power fastball. After making the full transition to the bullpen, the right-hander has been able to reach 100 MPH consistently. Overall, he averages out in the 96-98 MPH range. FanGraphs sees it as a 65-grade pitch. Cederlind heavily relies on his fastball as both his slider and change up are seen as average to below average pitches.

While Cederlind didn’t show much swing and miss stuff throughout the minors, the right-hander did have a 50% strikeout rate on his breaking pitch in the Majors, which Baseball Savant identified as a cutter. Cederlind has the stuff to be a strikeout pitcher, but he hasn’t yet shown that in the pros yet. Next year, he could see a rise in strikeouts under the guidance of Oscar Marin. After all, many of the Pirates’ pitchers saw their strikeout rates tick up in 2020 after Marin took over as coach.

Jose Soriano

Jose Soriano was acquired by the Pittsburgh Pirates with the top pick in December’s Rule 5 Draft. Like many of the other names we’ve talked about today he’ll eventually make the transition to the bullpen after undergoing the dreaded Tommy John surgery.

A former Los Angeles Angles’ prospect, the Dominican Republic product has shown talent throughout the minors but has yet to put it all together. Through 238 innings of work, Soriano has put up a 2.76 ERA, 3.75 FIP and 1.30 WHIP. Soriano has shown a good ability of limiting home runs allowing just 10 while putting up healthy ground ball rates. However, walks have been an issue for the right hander, but he has struggled with control with a 13.4% walk rate.

Soriano did have a lower walk rate through his first few professional seasons with a 10.6% in his 109.1 innings of work. He’s also seen his strikeout rate rise. While he had a sub-20% rate from 2016-2018, the hard throwing right hander saw that rise to 26.6% in 2019.

Soriano’s fastball is his best pitch, which is seen as a 55 current fastball but could become a 60 grade pitch in the future. MLB Pipeline even sees it as a 70-grade pitch. He only averages 2250 RPM, but can crank the pitch up into the triple digits. He also has an above average curveball that has a future grade of 55. However, his change up is seen as a below average pitch.

If Soriano can get his control even to an average level, he could be a very effective relief pitcher. His stuff would also play up in the pen if he focuses on his two best pitches, that being a fastball and curveball.

Nick Mears

Despite being picked up as an undrafted amature free agent, Nick Mears has become the Pittsburgh Pirates’ best relief pitching prospect. Mears has pitched 50.2 innings throughout his minor league career allowing an ERA of just 3.02 with a 2.71 FIP and 1.01 WHIP.

Mears has shown the ability to get a load of swing and misses with a 37.2% strikeout rate. However this hasn’t majorly affected his control with a 9.2% walk rate. While it’s not the best walk percentage, it’s easily workable.

Mears primarily works with two pitches. Of the two, his fastball is considered an elite-level pitch. He averages out in the upper-90s, but also puts decent spin on it with 2400 RPM, giving it the 4th highest spin rate among the Pirates’ top ranked prospects on FanGraphs. They also give it a 70-grade. Mears also works with a curveball that has a 50 current and 55 future grade. It also has decent spin sitting at 2450 RPM.

If anyone in the Pirates’ system projects as a closer, it’s Mears. He’s rocketed through the minors, starting 2018 at Low-A and reaching the MLB by 2020. However, he’s barely pitched at Double-A. 2021 will be his age 24 season. He might start the year out at Triple-A, but he may very well be the team’s closer by the end of 2021.