Pittsburgh Pirates: Intriguing Non-Roster Invitees to Watch

PITTSBURGH, PA - JULY 22: Ji-hwan Bae #72 of the Pittsburgh Pirates in action during the exhibition game against the Cleveland Indians at PNC Park on July 22, 2020 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - JULY 22: Ji-hwan Bae #72 of the Pittsburgh Pirates in action during the exhibition game against the Cleveland Indians at PNC Park on July 22, 2020 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /
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Pittsburgh Pirates
Altoona’s Cal Mitchell (5) reacts to a call as the Binghamton Rumble Ponies lost to the Altoona Curve, 5-0, at the Ponies home opener on Tuesday, May 11, 2021. /

Outfielders to watch

Few prospects made a more meteoric rise through the Pirate farm system last season than outfielder Matt Fraizer. Fraizer hit for a .314/.401/.578 slash line to go with a 158 wRC+ in 75 games played at Altoona. He was then promoted to Indianapolis where he hit for a .288/.356/.492 slash line to go with a 129 wRC+.

The season he had led to Fraizer climbing Pirate prospect boards. He is now the organization’s 8th ranked prospect according to FanGraphs. While Fraizer won’t make the Opening Day roster it certainly would not be a surprise to see him make his MLB debut at some point this season, potentially early in the season. Fraizer seems like a prospect who has a big showing in the spring and gets fans excited.

Cal Mitchell will be another outfielder in camp as a non-roster invitee who could make his MLB debut this season. Mitchell was once a borderline top 100 prospect whose career hit some road bumps thanks largely to the lack of a minor season in 2020.

Mitchell is a prospect the Pittsburgh Pirates left unprotected from the Rule 5 Draft. Had the draft not been cancelled there is a good chance a team would have selected Mitchell. Like Fraizer, Mitchell will start the season at Indianapolis but could make his MLB debut this season. Mitchell still has potential to be a very good MLB outfielder, especially in a fourth outfielder role.