Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Rum Bunter’s Preseason Top 10

Number 6 – Shortstop Liover Peguero

Liover Peguero was the headliner of the Starling Marte trade. Since being acquired by the Bucs, Peguero has become one of the best shortstop prospects in the league. He has developed into a consensus top 100 prospect and could make his major league debut in 2022.

Peguero batted for a solid .270/.332/.444 line, .338 wOBA, and 108 wRC+ with the Greensboro Grasshoppers. He showed off plus pop with 14 long balls along with a .170 isolated slugging percentage. Peguero turned on the jets in the second half of the season, where he hit .301/.359/.509 with a .374 wOBA and 130 wRC+ from July 25th onward. The most significant part of all of this is that he was nearly three years younger than the average player at High-A.

Peguero is a hit-over-power kind of prospect, but he has plenty of power. Down the stretch, he saw his ISO increase to .209 while going yard eight times in less than 200 plate appearances (182 to be exact). With his current trajectory, he should have slightly above average game power by the time he’s 22-23-years-old.

He also projects to be a good defender up the middle, and he is a projected-55 grade defender. While many have pointed out his 23 errors, it shouldn’t be that much of a worry. He’s shown the instincts, reflexes, and arm to stick at shortstop long term.

The shortstop should start the year at Double-A Altoona next season. If Peguero picks up where he left 2021 off, we may see him get a similar treatment to two prospects we’ll talk about later. That means getting a major league call-up in the second half of September and making his debut. Peguero is an easy answer to the Pirates’ shortstop of the future.