Pittsburgh Pirates: Players Set for MLB Breakout in 2022

PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 29: Roansy Contreras #59 of the Pittsburgh Pirates makes his Major League debut against the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park on September 29, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 29: Roansy Contreras #59 of the Pittsburgh Pirates makes his Major League debut against the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park on September 29, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
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Pittsburgh Pirates
Mar 1, 2021; Sarasota, FL, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates Mason Martin (80) poses during media day at Ed Smith Stadium. Mandatory Credit: MLB Photos via USA Today Sports /

First baseman Mason Martin

Mason Martin blasted onto the scene with the Low-A and High-A teams in 2019 which earned him a promotion to Double-A Altoona for the 2021 season and later saw him once again promoted, this time to Triple-A Indianapolis at the end of the minor league season.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have not had a notable first baseman in quite some time so the emergence of Mason Martin is hopefully giving Pirates’ fans hope. Martin slashed .241/.317/.487 while hitting 25 HR, 81 RBI, and 106 hits over his time in Double-A and Triple-A. The slash line isn’t impressive if you compare it to the others above, but this infielder seems to sparkle when it comes to power but still can get on base. In 2019, Martin hit 35 HR and 129 RBI while batting an average of .254, so there is something there other than power.

On the defense side of things, Martin is a solid defender and has never had a knack for committing errors. He could surely take over at the position and be a continuous pick-artist. The 22-year-old should arrive in 2022 if everything goes well. He is most likely to come aboard in September of 2022 rather than the start or halfway point of the season like others. Of course, that may all be whipped out because the organization did not protect him for the upcoming Rule 5 draft, so if he is drafted by any other team he will not be appearing in Pittsburgh anytime soon.