Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Checking in on 2022 Draft Picks at Bradenton

Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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Pittsburgh Pirates
Apr 13, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Wil Crowe (29) and catcher Andrew Knapp (31) celebrate after defeating the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park. Pittsburgh won 6-2. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

16th round pick Nick Cimillo

When the 16th round of the 2022 MLB Draft rolled around the Pittsburgh Pirates decided to go with a college catcher. With the 470th overall pick in the draft the Pirates selected Nick Cimillo out of Rutgers University.

Cimillo entered play on Sunday having appeared in just eight games with the Bradenton Marauders thus far. I those eight games he had accumulated 22 plate appearances and 50.1 innings behind the dish.

In his 22 PAs with the Marauders Cimillo has hit for a .188/.409/.188 slash line and a 104 wRC+. Cimillo has yet to collect an extra base hit, but has strong strikeout and walk rates. He has struck out in 22.7% of his trips to plate while walking at a 13.6% clip.

Hopefully, Cimillo will get a few more starts behind the dish down the stretch this season. This could put him in position to begin the 2023 season with the High-A Greensboro Grasshoppers, although it would not be a surprise to see him start the 2023 campaign back in Bradenton.