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Pittsburgh Pirates: Three Breakout Pitching Candidates for 2022
By Marty Leap
Roansy Contreras
This one is the most obvious choice for this list. Despite missing time last summer while he was batting a forearm issue, Roansy Contreras was one of the biggest breakout prospects in the Pirate farm system in 2021. This led to Contreras making his MLB debut during the final series of the season, a start in which Contreras flashed his immense potential.
Contreras posted a 2.64 ERA, 2.63 FIP, 5.6% walk rate and a 35.0% strikeout rate in his 13 minor league starts. He pitched 58 innings in these 13 starts, allowing just 41 hits and 5 walks. Both his fastball and slider improved last season, as did his changeup giving him a legitimate third quality to borderline plus pitch.
In his lone MLB start Contreras struck out 4 batters in 3 scoreless innings of work. He then struck out 18 batters in 14 innings pitched in the Arizona Fall League. Had it not been for his forearm issue, odds are, Contreras would have made more than 1 MLB start in 2021.
Where Contreras starts the 2022 season will likely hinge on what comes out of the new CBA. If service time rules are fixed then Contreras may start the season in the starting rotation of the Pittsburgh Pirates. If not, he will be ticked for Triple-A Indianapolis.
Even if Contreras starts at Indianapolis he should reach the Major League level by early June at the latest. This would lead to Contreras being given the opportunity to make at least 18-20 MLB starts and to begin to solidify himself as the potential future ace of the Pittsburgh Pirates.