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

Outfielder Travis Swaggerty

Travis Swaggerty is different from the other four players on this list. That is because it would not be a surprise to see Swaggerty start the 2022 season with the Pittsburgh Pirates on their active roster.

Swaggerty recently turned 24-years-old. The 10th overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft was viewed by many as the best college hitter in that draft and as a hitter who could quickly climb through a minor league system.

This season Swaggerty made his Triple-A debut after skipping the Double-A level. With Indianapolis the left-handed hitting Swaggerty suffered a season ending shoulder surgery just 48 plate appearances and 12 games into his 2021 season.

Prior to getting injured Swaggerty had a strong 12.5% walk rate, a well beloved averaged 16.7% strikeout rate, he was flashing power with a .220 isolated slugging (ISO) and he had hit 3 home runs.

All signs pointed toward Swaggerty making his MLB debut at some point during this past summer. Unfortunately, the aforementioned shoulder injury got in the way and prevented this debut from happening.

When the 2022 season begin Bryan Reynolds will have center field anchored down with Ben Gamel likely in right field. It is not out of the realm of possibility that Swaggerty could be in left field when the season begins. Swaggerty is a viewed as a potential Gold Glove caliber outfielder, which is what could make left field the home for Swaggerty due to PNC Park’s left field being one of the largest and most difficult to handle defensively in all of baseball.