Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Three Young Pitchers to Watch in 2022

(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
Pittsburgh Pirates
PITTSBURGH, PA – SEPTEMBER 11: General view of the field during a ceremony commemorating the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks before the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Washington Nationals at PNC Park on September 11, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /

Carlos Jimenez

The Pittsburgh Pirates signed Carlos Jimenez back in July 2018, his age-15 season. Jimenez would make his professional debut the following season, his age-16 campaign. Despite his extremely young age, Jimenez has put up quality results in the innings he has pitched so far.

In 73.1 innings, Jimenez has a 2.82 ERA, 3.83 FIP, and 1.27 WHIP. Jimenez has been great at getting swings and misses while preventing the home run. He has a 28.3% strikeout rate and 0.49 HR/9. But command hasn’t been his strongest suit. He has dished out a walk to 10.2% of all the batters he has faced.

Jimenez has gotten rave reviews for his changeup. The pitch has late break on his arm side, and some even consider it the best changeup in the Pirate organization. He also throws a fastball that rides through the zone well. His breaking pitch is a slider/slurve that has some bite. It’s a good repertoire for one of the youngest pitchers in the organization.

Jimenez carries under the radar talent that could help him blossom into a major league pitcher. He’s still young as 2022 will only be his age-19 season. But you can’t help but be intrigued by a guy who’s only 19-years-old and an elite-level change-up already. If he improves one of his other two offerings, he could, at the very least, be a good reliever, and he could be an excellent starter as well.