Pittsburgh Pirates: Prospects Set for an Extended Look in 2022

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PITTSBURGH, PA – JULY 20: A New Era pillbox Pittsburgh Pirates baseball hat is seen in the dugout during the game against the Philadelphia Phillies at PNC Park on July 20, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

Outfielder Matthew Fraizer

Our first player is one of the big breakout names from the 2021 season. That’s outfielder Matthew Fraizer. Fraizer, if he gets off to a good start to 2022, could earn the call to the Majors before another notable outfield prospect that we’ll talk about later (mostly because they’re coming back from a major injury).

Fraizer started the year out at High-A Greensboro. Expectations were not very high for the former third-round pick. But he would become one of the level’s best hitters. He put up a .314/.401/.578 line while showing a ton of power. Not only was his slugging percentage approaching .600, but he slammed 20 home runs in 350 plate appearances while having a .264 isolated slugging percentage. Overall, he had a .418 wOBA, and 158 wRC+

Fraizer was eventually promoted to Double-A where he put up a .288/.356/.492 line, hit 3 more home runs in 149 plate appearances while having an overall .366 wOBA, and 129 wRC+. While he didn’t repeat his Greensboro numbers, a 129 wRC+ is still very good. Plus, his fly ball rate was at an outstanding 45% and had a sub-40% ground ball rate at both levels.

All told, Fraizer was one of the Pittsburgh Pirates best performing minor league hitters. He .939 OPS, .402 wOBA, and 149 wRC+. All three stats ranked in the top 3 of Pirate minor league batters with at least 300 plate appearances. He was also one of 12 Pirates minor league players with a walk rate above 10% at 11.2% (min. 300 PA’s).

Fraizer will likely get his season kicked off at Triple-A Indianapolis. He, along with Bryan Reynolds and another very exciting top outfield prospect we’ll talk about later, could all be starting in PNC Park’s grass by the end of 2022. Fraizer may even get the call early in the season if the situation necessitates it.

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