Pittsburgh Pirates: Five Prospects Who Can Make MLB Impact in 2022

Altoona Curve starting pitcher Roansy Contreras throws against the Erie SeaWolves on June 15, 2021, at UPMC Park in Erie.P6seawolves061521
Altoona Curve starting pitcher Roansy Contreras throws against the Erie SeaWolves on June 15, 2021, at UPMC Park in Erie.P6seawolves061521 /
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Pittsburgh Pirates
Feb 24, 2021; Bradenton, Florida, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Roansy Contreras (59) warms up during spring training at Pirate City. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports /

Starting pitcher Roansy Contreras

Early in the 2021 season few Pirate prospects were generating more buzz than pitcher Roansy Contreras. Acquired from the New York Yankees in the Jameson Taillon trade, Contreras was dominating Double-A batters early in the season.

Contreras appeared to be well on his way to earning a promotion to Triple-A Indianapolis prior to a forearm issue costing him two months. Since returning from the injured list Conteras has picked up where he left off at before his injury.

This season Contreras has pitched 54.1 innings in 12 starts for Double-A Altoona. Contreras has posted a 2.65 ERA, 2.74 FIP, walked just 5.5% of batters faced and struck out a whopping 34.9% of opposing batters.

Sunday evening Contreras was one of eight prospects that the Pittsburgh Pirates promoted from Altoona to Indianapolis. This will allow Contreras to get at least one start under his belt at the Triple-A level before the end of the season.

Few prospects will be more intriguing for the Pittsburgh Pirates and their fans to watch next spring in Bradenton than Contreras. While he will almost assuredly start the 2022 season in Indianapolis, if he pitches anywhere near as well as he did at Double-A this season he will be in the Pirate starting rotation sooner rather than later.