Pittsburgh Pirates: Three Underrated Prospects Who Deserve A Promotion

LHP Tyler Samaniego

Tyler Samaniego was a 15th-round pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2021. Although he was a late-round selection, Samaniego could bring something the Pirates have had very few of over the past handful of seasons. That’s a reliable, high-leverage, left-handed bullpen option.

So far this year, Samaniego has pitched to the tune of a 0.59 ERA, 2.97 FIP, and 0.78 WHIP in 15.1 innings of work. Samaniego has barely given up any batted balls in the air. He has a ground ball rate approaching 80%. For reference, that leads all minor league pitchers with 10+ IP, and there’s only one current MLB player with a higher GB%. Only Zack Britton has posted a higher full single-season GB% since 2015. He’s also been great at getting strikeouts. He’s punched out 22 batters for a 35.5% strikeout rate.

With that high of a ground ball rate, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that he has given up zero home runs thus far. The only massive downside is he has some command issues. As is with most hard-throwing relief prospects, Samaniego has a high walk rate so far this season. He’s let up a free pass to about 14.5% of batters faced. He’s given out three times as many walks as hits, having nine walks and three hits.

Samaniego has been used exclusively in late innings, and all of his appearances have come in the eighth inning or later. So far, he has six saves but plenty of holds. The southpaw is already 23-years-old, and relief pitching prospects usually get moved up through the system faster than starting pitching prospects, so Samaniego may see himself as one of Altoona’s high-leverage arms within the next month.