Pittsburgh Pirates: Potential Top 100 Prospects By End Of 2021

Pitcher Brennan Malone

Right-handed pitcher Brennan Malone is personally one of my favorite prospects in the Pirate organization. Malone was taken with the 33rd overall selection in 2019 by the Arizona Diamondbacks. While being drafted outside the top 30 picks, Malone was seen as a top 20-25 draft prospect by both MLB Pipeline and FanGraphs. His commitment to college made his status a bit questionable and bump down his prospect stock. The Pittbsurgh Pirates received Malone in the Starling Marte trade, along with another piece that will also be featured on this list.

Malone stands at 6’3″, 203 pounds. He uses his big frame to generate a big fastball, one that MLB Pipeline sees as a 65-grade pitch and FanGraphs sees as a 60-future grade pitch. The pitch averages out at 92-96 MPH with 2300 RPM, but can reach upwards of 99 MPH.

Malone has two breaking balls. Both his curveball and slider could be above average offerings. FanGraphs sees both as 55-future grade pitches. Meanwhile, MLB Pipeline sees his slider as a 60-grade offering and his curveball as a 50 grade pitch. Then he has a fourth pitch, a change up, which both Pipeline and FanGraphs see as a 50-grade offering.

This gives Malone three offerings that could be above average and a fourth that could be average. If you can find a pitcher with multiple plus pitches, you have a good prospect on your hands.

Malone has little pro experience as he pitched just 8 innings in 2019. 2021 will be his first full professional season and his age-20 campaign. He is an extremely talented right-handed pitcher who, if he breaks out in 2021, could be a top 100 prospect before the year’s end.