Pittsburgh Pirates: Three Prospects to Watch at Florida Complex League

BRADENTON, FLORIDA - MARCH 22: A detail of the 2021 MLB Grapefruit league logo during a spring training game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Baltimore Orioles on March 22, 2021 at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
BRADENTON, FLORIDA - MARCH 22: A detail of the 2021 MLB Grapefruit league logo during a spring training game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Baltimore Orioles on March 22, 2021 at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 4
Next
Pittsburgh Pirates
MINNEAPOLIS, MN- AUGUST 15: A Pittsburgh Pirates hat on the dugout steps against the Minnesota Twins on August 15, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Pirates 6-4. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

Joelvis Del Rosario

Joelvis Del Rosario is a 20-year-old right-hander in the Pittsburgh Pirates system. Del Rosario previously pitched with the Pirates’ Dominican Summer League affiliates in 2018 and 2019 while putting up solid numbers. His 2021 season with the Pirates Gold has been the best.

Del Rosario has pitched 25.1 innings with a 3.55 ERA, but an outstanding 2.69 FIP, and 1.105 WHIP. Del Rosario has struck out 33.3% of all the batters he has faced so far, a 13.8% increase from 2019. His walk rate has also taken a decrease, going from 7.2% to 4.8%. Plus he’s given up just one home run.

Del Rosario could improve as well. His .355 batting average on balls in play is a tad high, especially considering his 49.2% ground ball rate and 16.4% line drive rate. He has a 34.4% fly ball rate, but his 42.9% infield fly ball rate is outstanding.

Next. Miguel Yajure Makes Second Rehab Start. dark

Del Rosario looks like a solid arm in the minor league system. He’s still very young and a raw talent. Though he’s put up the numbers and looks like he has the stuff to rise through the Pirates’ prospect system over the course of the next 2-3 years.