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Pittsburgh Pirates: Projecting 2022 for Protected Prospects

By Marty Leap

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - MARCH 23: Jack Suwinski of San Diego Padres scores in the 7th inning during a friendly game between San Diego Padres and Diablos Rojos at Alfredo Harp Helu Stadium on March 23, 2019 in Mexico City, Mexico. The game is held as part of the opening celebrations of the Alfredo Harp Helu Stadium, now the newest in Mexico to play baseball. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - MARCH 23: Jack Suwinski of San Diego Padres scores in the 7th inning during a friendly game between San Diego Padres and Diablos Rojos at Alfredo Harp Helu Stadium on March 23, 2019 in Mexico City, Mexico. The game is held as part of the opening celebrations of the Alfredo Harp Helu Stadium, now the newest in Mexico to play baseball. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images) /
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Pittsburgh Pirates
Mar 1, 2021; Sarasota, FL, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates Canaan Smith-Njigba (92) poses during media day at Ed Smith Stadium. Mandatory Credit: MLB Photos via USA Today Sports /

Outfielder Canaan Smith-Njigba

Canaan Smith-Njigba was one of the four players the Pittsburgh Pirates acquired from the New York Yankees last January in the Jameson Taillon trade. The left-handed hitting outfielder reached the Triple-A level by September last season, is on the doorstep of the Major Leagues, and this made him a prospect the Pirates deemed they needed to protect.

Smith-Njigba spent much of the 2021 season with Double-A Altoona where he hit for a .274/.398/.406 slash line to go with a 127 wRC+. The 22-year-old drew walks at a tremendous, borderline elite 16.9% rate, to go with 6 home runs and 11 doubles.

While he struggled in a late season promotion to Triple-A, Smith-Njigba bounced back with a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League. He hit for a .298/.452/.456 slash line in the AFL to go with a 9.6% extra base hit rate.

Smith-Njigba will start the 2022 season where he ended in 2021 with Triple-A Indianapolis. With a strong showing with the Indians he should be able to play his way into seeing playing time in Pittsburgh next season.

Next. Recently DFA'd OF the Pirates Could Pursue. dark

As Noah recently wrote about it would not be a surprise to see Smith-Njigba playing a role on the Major League roster for the Pirates by the end of the season. As we discussed when talking about Swaggerty, the Pittsburgh Pirates need outfield help. Smith-Njigba could also get ABs as a DH for the Pirates.

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