Pittsburgh Pirates Minors: Under-the-Radar Prospects Off to a Hot Start

Jeffrey Passantino

The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Jeffrey Passantino during the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 Draft from the Chicago Cubs. However, Passantino could be a feel-good story for the Pirates this season and his good start at Double-A Altoona could lead to a call to the major leagues.

The right-hander was the very last pick in the 2017 draft, but pitched extremely well in the Chicago Cubs. In 2019, he tossed 89 innings as a swingman (pitched 25 games, started 10), posting a 3.03 ERA, 2.82 FIP and 1.10 WHIP. This came with a 29.3% strikeout rate, a walk rate of just 3.9% and a HR/9 of 1.0.

Passantino has pitched in 3 games and a total of 8 innings with the Curve this season. Though he has given up 3 runs, he did not issue a walk through his first 5 innings. Passantino has continued to strikeout batters at a high rate, getting 14 of the 33 he has faced so far down on strike three. His last game was his first start of the season. This is where he gave up his three runs, but he still struck out 5 batters.

The right-hander is a soft tosser with his cutter averaging out in the upper-80s and topping out in the low-90s. His breaking pitches are a slider and curveball, with his slider averaging out in the upper-70s and his curveball coming in around the lower-70s. He also as a fourth offering. That’s a changeup that comes in around the low-80s.

Passantino is a soft tosser, but he has great command and he’s getting outs in the upper level of the minor leagues. At this rate, he may make it to Triple-A very soon and possibly make his MLB debut before the end of 2021.

Michael Burrows

Michael Burrows is ranked as the organization’s 28th best prospect by FanGraphs, but he doesn’t get as much attention as other prospects throughout the Pirate system. Despite that, he has the stuff to rise through the Pirates’ ranks.

Burrows had a good season at Low-A in 2019. He tossed 43.2 innings with a 4.33 ERA, 3.54 FIP and 1.46 WHIP. He posted a 22.3% strikeout rate, but had a walk rate of 10.4%. However, home runs were barely an issue. He only gave up two home runs throughout the season. Nearly 30% of the runs he allowed in 2019 (6 of 21) came in one poor start.

Burrows has started the season out at High-A Greensboro. He’s started 2 games and pitched 8 total innings. Through those 8 innings, he allowed just one hit and one walk while striking out 15. He’s struck out over half of the batters he has faced as he has only 27 players.

Burrows’s biggest tool is his spin rate. His four-seam fastball has the highest spin rate in the Pirate  organization with 2550 RPM, 50 more RPM than Steven Jennings. He’ll throw this pitch around 90-94 MPH and topping out at 96 MPH. His curveball has the second highest spin rate of any breaking ball in the system with 2800 RPM, sitting behind Jennings’s 3000 RPM.

Both of his offerings are considered above average future pitches by FanGraphs. His four-seam fastball has a 55-future grade while his curveball has a 60-future grade. He’s also working on a changeup, which could decide whether or not he’s a starter or reliever.

Still, his hot start as a starting pitcher is a promising start. Though he’s yet to go deep into a game, him averaging 4 innings a game is a good start. Hopefully, he comes around and is able to make it through lineups two times.

Aaron Shackelford

Aaron Shackelford is not much of a top prospect. He’s a 24-year-old at High-A Greensboro. But he’s gotten off to a fantastic start to 2021 and, given his age, he could make his way up through the minors quickly.

Shackelford was selected out of The Master’s University in Santa Clarita, California, with the Pirates’ 14th round selection in 2019. His first taste of professional action went very well. Through his first 234 plate appearances, Shackelford batted .274/.339/.491 with a .369 wOBA and 124 wRC+. His walk and strikeout rates weren’t the greatest, with an 8.5% walk rate and 23.1% strikeout rate, but they weren’t awful either. Shackelford saw time at third base and second base at Bristol.

So far this season Shackelford has stepped to the plate 41 times, collecting 11 hits, including 4 home runs and 2 doubles. Not only is Shackelford showing some power, but he’s also showing some patience at the plate. He’s walked 7 times so far while striking out 10 times. So far, he’s only seen time at first base but given his experience at other positions, he could see some time at the hot corner, or left field if need be.

Shackelford is hitting well enough, a promotion to Double-A could be in his sights by the end of May. The way he is currently hitting, he has the chance to at least get a cup of coffee in the Major Leagues by September.