Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Quinn Priester Struggles in Second Triple-A Start

After Quinn Priester turned in a strong start in his Triple-A debut, the highly touted Pittsburgh Pirates pitching prospect struggled in his second start with the Indianapolis Indians

Entering the 2022 season there were multiple prospects in the Pittsburgh Pirates farm system that were in need of a strong season. One of these prospects who has responded by putting together the season they were in need of is Quinn Priester.

The right-handed pitcher was a first-round pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2019. In the 2019 MLB Draft, Priester was arguably the top prep arm on the board. For much of his minor league career he has pitched like that.

However, after missing the 2020 season due to COVID and his stuff looking flat at times in 2021, Priester was in need of a big 2022 season. His age-22 season turned out to be one where Priester posted a 2.87 ERA, 3.23 FIP, 7.1% walk rate and a 24.0% strikeout rate in 15 starts with Double-A Altoona.

These results led to Priester being promoted to Triple-A Indianapolis last week. After pitching 5 scoreless innings in his Triple-A debut, he struggled on Tuesday night when he made his second start at the level.

Priester once again pitched into the 5th inning, but allowed 4 runs. These 4 runs allowed came on just three hits, but one of these three hits was a home run and he issued five walks. He wound up striking out four batters in 4.1 innings pitched. This was just the fifth time in 19 starts this season that Priester allowed 3 earned runs or more.

Priester is in a similar boat to the one Roansy Contreras is in at the major league level. Due to his pedigree, stuff, potential, and high ceiling, Priester is held to a different standard than most pitchers. Due to this, an outing such as the one he had on Tuesday night is a notable one. That said, it’s safe to chalk it up as nothing more than a blip on the radar.

Following Priester’s poor start the Indianapolis Indians were defeated 7-1 by the Columbus Clippers, dropping the Indians to 74-74 on the season. Colin Selby followed Priester and struck out the two batters he faced to clean up the 5th inning.

Jeremy Beasley, who the Pittsburgh Pirates acquired at the trade deadline, finally made his debut with the organization and it did not go well. Beasley faced three batters, allowing two hits and issuing a walk on his way to being charged with 3 runs without recording an out.

John O’Reilly got the three outs in the 6th inning before Junior Fernández allowed a hit and struck out a pair in a scoreless 7th inning. Nick Mears then continued his strong work by pitching a 1-2-3 8th inning.

Offensively, it was another poor night for the Indian offense. The team’s lone hits were singles by Brnedt Citta and Travis Swaggerty. Malcom Nuñez, Blake Sabol, Hunter Owen, Mason Martin, and Swaggerty each drew a walk as well.