Pittsburgh Pirates: A Look at the Best Draft Prospect Tools

Alabama starting pitcher Connor Prielipp delivers the ball to the plate as the Crimson Tide opened the season against McNeese Friday, Feb. 19, 2021, in Sewell-Thomas Stadium. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]Alabama Vs Mcneese
Alabama starting pitcher Connor Prielipp delivers the ball to the plate as the Crimson Tide opened the season against McNeese Friday, Feb. 19, 2021, in Sewell-Thomas Stadium. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]Alabama Vs Mcneese /
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Command/Control – Brandon Barriera

Last year, the Pittsburgh Pirates picked one of the best command pitchers in the draft, left-hander Anthony Solometo. This year’s draft’s best command pitcher is another left-hander, this being Brandon Barriera.

The high schooler could go in the top 15 picks. The southpaw has been highly touted for his ability to locate his offerings. FanGraphs is a bit higher on him, putting up as the 10th best prospect with a 60-grade for his command, but MLB Pipeline also likes him. They rank him as the 21st prospect with a 55-control grade.

https://twitter.com/CBAcad/status/1498310677995442179

All of Barreria’s offerings project as above average, and both FanGraphs and MLB Pipeline see them becoming 55-grade pitches. While he isn’t a flamethrower, he’s hitting the 90-94 MPH range as a high schooler. He’s topping out at 96 MPH, so it isn’t out of the question if he can reach more of a 92-96 MPH range by the time he’s 21-23-years-old.

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He has a slider low-80’s slider, a high-spin curveball, and a deceptive changeup to go with his four-seamer. It’s a nice set of offerings to have given his near-elite command. Barrera doesn’t need to go up there, pumping 98 through the zone with regularity. If he averages out at 93-94 MPH with good make-up and secondary stuff, two things that he’s been praised for having, he’d be a guy to keep an eye on this season.