Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Rum Bunter’s Top 5 Pitching Prospects

Number 1: Quinn Priester

The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Quinn Priester with the 18th overall pick in the MLB Draft. Like how Contreras shot up prospect boards over this past season, Priester shot up prospect boards this past off-season. His work in the instructionals led to him ranking as a top 60 prospect across all boards. If Malone was seen as the second-best high school arm in the 2019 draft, Priester was seen as the best prep arm available.

Priester’s fastball was averaging out in the upper-90’s. He was averaging just around 97 MPH but has hit 99 in the past. He also has a decent spin on the pitch with 2200 RPM. He’ll also use a sinking two-seam fastball. Priester still needs a bit of fine-tuning, but he has a good feel for the offering and it’s another pitch with the potential to be an average or better offering. His slider also projects as an above-average breaking offering.

But among all his pitches, his curveball may be the best. FanGraphs sees it as the best curveball in the minor leagues. He and Houston Astros’ right-handed prospect Bryan Abreu are the only two prospects FanGraphs projects to have an 80-grade curve. Priester can put a ton of spin on the pitch with 2900 RPM. His curveball comes in around the low-80’s with insane break.

Priester is 6’3″, 210 pounds. He’s also very young at just 20-years-old. Despite him not turning 21 until mid-September, Priester is already at High-A Greensboro. Obviously, the Pittsburgh Pirates shouldn’t rush him to the big leagues, but he should be a quick riser given his immense talent. He might get his first taste of Triple-A in 2022.