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Pittsburgh Pirates: Five Prospects Who Can Make MLB Impact in 2022
With the Pittsburgh Pirates set to see multiple highly touted prospects graduated to the Major League level during the 2022 season these five prospects in particular could make a huge impact next season
It is well known that the Pittsburgh Pirates have one of the most talented, and deepest, farm systems in all of baseball. This is why the future for the Pirate organization remains bright despite the team currently wrapping up their third consecutive season with a losing record.
This talented farm system started to produce some fruits this season. In limited MLB action before getting injured pitcher Miguel Yajure flashed why he can be a big part of the Pittsburgh Pirates starting rotation in 2022 and beyond.
Ke’Bryan Hayes officially graduated from prospect status this season. While Hayes is still looking to completely find his footing offensively he may already be the best defensive third baseman in all of Major League Baseball.
With all sights now set on the 2022 season fans of the Pittsburgh Pirates can begin to look ahead to prospects who can debut with the club next season. These five prospects in particular have the potential to make a big impact with the Major League club in 2022.
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.
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.
Outfielder Cal Mitchell
Outfielder Cal Mitchell is another player who was promoted to Indianapolis on Sunday evening. Coming out of the 2018 season Mitchell appeared to be a prospect ready to shoot up prospect boards and potentially push for top 100 status.
Mitchell then put together a good, but not great, season at High-A in 2019 when he hit for a .251/.304/.406 slash line to go with a 110 wRC+ in 493 plate appearances. After the COVID-19 pandemic axed the 2020 minor league season Mitchell became a bit of a forgotten prospect in the Pittsburgh Pirates farm system.
This season Mitchell made his Double-A debut having recorded 419 PAs in 108 games played with the Curve. Still just 22-years-old Mitchell hit for a .280/.330/.429 slash line to go with a .149 ISO And a 106 wRC+ with the Curve.
Mitchell is a left-handed hitter who was the 50th overall selection in the 2017 MLB Draft. He can also be a plus defender in the outfielder. He has the ability to play all three outfield spots, but with Reynolds seemingly having center field locked down for the foreseeable future right field could be the home for Mitchell before the end of the 2022 season.
Shortstop/outfielder Oneil Cruz
There are few hitters in the Pirate farm system, and in all of minor league baseball, with a higher ceiling than Oneil Cruz. After spending the 2020 season at the alternate training site in Altoona, he returned to Altoona this season but this time it was to play for the Curve.
Prior to being promoted to Indianapolis on Sunday evening Cruz was hitting for a .292/.346/.536 slash line in 273 PAs with the Curve. He had hit 12 home runs, posted a .244 ISO and a 136 wRC+. He also has dropped his strikeout rate to 23.4% which is the second lowest of his professional career.
Watching what Cruz can do with Indy down the stretch this season will be worthwhile for Pirate fans. Cruz has all of the potential in the world as a power hitter and he appears to have taken more steps toward reaching that potential this season.
Cruz will start the 2022 season back at Indianapolis. If he hits well for the Indians he could be in the heart of the Pirate lineup by next summer. The question could be what position Cruz will be at?
He still is playing shortstop in the minor leagues despite there long being rumors of him moving to the outfield. Cruz did start to play some outfield this season, but with the designated hitter likely coming to the National League next season Cruz could also find himself as the Pirate designated hitter next season.
First baseman Mason Martin
Like Cruz, Mason Martin is a player who has massive power potential. Also like Cruz, he is a player who could make an impact as a potential designated hitter with the Pittsburgh Pirates during the 2022 season.
Martin was also one of the players promoted to Indianapolis on Sunday evening. Prior to his promotion Martin was hitting for a .242/.318/.481 slash line in 471 PAs with the Curve. He has crushed 22 home runs, 29 doubles and a pair of triples. All of this has resulted in a .239 ISO for Martin to go with a 113 wRC+.
The most concerning thing for Martin has been his strikeout rate. He has struck out at a 34.2% clip this season, continuing the trend of a high strikeout rate for Martin. This marks the third time in four minor league seasons that Martin has struck out at a 30%+ clip.
Even if strikeouts continue to be an issue for Martin his power potential will still make him a valuable player and make him capable of having a huge impact at the Major League level. At worst Martin could be a Pedro Alvarez type of hitter. The big difference would be that Martin is the far superior defensive player to Alvarez.
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Unless Martin falls flat on his face at Indianapolis he will likely see time with the Pittsburgh Pirates next season. His power will give him the potential to make a major impact for the Pirates and he could potentially prove to be the team’s first baseman of the future.