Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Rum Bunter’s Preseason Top 10

PITTSBURGH, PA - JULY 18: Catcher Henry Davis, who was selected first overall in the 2021 MLB draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates takes batting practice on the field after signing a contract with the Pirates at PNC Park on July 18, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - JULY 18: Catcher Henry Davis, who was selected first overall in the 2021 MLB draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates takes batting practice on the field after signing a contract with the Pirates at PNC Park on July 18, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
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Pittsburgh Pirates
Indianapolis centerfielder Travis Swaggerty hit a leadoff home run to start the game against Iowa at Principal Park in Des Moines on Tuesday, May 4, 2021.20210504 Iowacubs

Number 9 – Outfielder Travis Swaggerty

Travis Swaggerty comes in at our number 9 spot. A first-round pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2018, Swaggerty’s minor league career has severely been underrated. Since the second half of the 2019 season, he’s been a great hitter, with a wRC+ just under 150 dating back to the end of June 2019. Had it not been for a dislocated shoulder, he likely would have been a regular fixture in the Pirates’ major league outfield last season.

Last season the talented outfielder only had 48 plate appearances before his injury but posted a quality .220/.333/.439 line, .343 wOBA, and 108 wRC+, making him a comfortably above-average hitter. Plus, he had six walks and only 8 strikeouts. Swaggerty showed off some improving game power as well. He had a .220 isolated slugging percentage with six home runs. Swaggerty has always had great raw power but struggled to lift the ball off the ground. Last year, he had a healthy 26.7% line-drive rate, well above the average, and a ground ball rate of just 36.7%.

Despite his good batted ball rates, hitting a line drive over a quarter of the time, Swaggerty’s overall numbers were heavily influenced by a .200 batting average on balls in play. For reference of how unlucky that is, only three batters had a line drive rate above 25% and BAbip below .280 in a 300 plate appearance season dating back to 2018, and none of those three had a mark below .250. It’s also worth noting that dating back to June 29th, 2019, Swaggerty is a .309/.381/.459 hitter with a .385 wOBA and 148 wRC+.

Swaggerty has five-tool potential. His calling card is his Gold Glove defense in center field, along with more than enough speed to play the position regularly. He also has a great arm that could play in a corner if need be. His bat is underrated as he could be a consistent .260 hitter with 18-20 home runs. Plus, he’s displayed excellent plate discipline. He’s the kind of guy who would make a great two-hole hitter; enough power to score the leadoff man potentially, but enough of an ability to reach base to set up the middle of the lineup hitters.

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