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Pittsburgh Pirates: Three Potential Late-Blooming Minor Leaguers to Watch

By Noah Wright

BOSTON, MA - JUNE 12: Ben Cherington, general manager of the Boston Red Sox, leaves the field before a game with the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park on June 12, 2015 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - JUNE 12: Ben Cherington, general manager of the Boston Red Sox, leaves the field before a game with the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park on June 12, 2015 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – SEPTEMBER 26: Roansy Contreras #59 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches to Kyle Farmer #17 of the Cincinnati Reds in the third inning during the game at PNC Park on September 26, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – SEPTEMBER 26: Roansy Contreras #59 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches to Kyle Farmer #17 of the Cincinnati Reds in the third inning during the game at PNC Park on September 26, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

Relief Pitcher Colin Selby

Marty recently covered Colin Selby after his breakout performance for Double-A Altoona. The right-hander was a 16th-round pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2018 and toiled as a starting pitcher in the low levels of the minor leagues. He fully transitioned to the bullpen in 2021 but truly found his footing this year.

In his age-24 season, Selby pitched 32.2 innings for Altoona, working to the tune of a 2.20 ERA, 2.59 FIP, and 1.26 WHIP. Selby allowed just a single dinger, holding batters to a 29.6% fly ball rate and getting them to hit a grounder 53.1% of the time. Selby also had a 29.7% strikeout rate, though it did come with a sub-par 10.1% walk rate.

Selby has joined some of the best Pirate prospects at the Arizona Fall League. He’s only tossed four innings but has struck out five batters and has been cranking the heat up. He’s been recorded hitting 99 MPH with his fastball.

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Selby typically works in the mid-90s but certainly can reel back for more when he needs to. He pairs that with a nice curveball that sits in the low-80s. Selby does have some upside, and it would be nice to see him make his debut next year. The Pittsburgh Pirates need all the help they can get in the bullpen, and while Selby might not be their best relief prospect, he could become a surprise name to watch next season.

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