Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Henry Davis Staying Hot in AFL & More

As Arizona Fall League play rolls into its fourth week, Pittsburgh Pirates prospects continue to perform well for the Surprise Saguaros

The Arizona Fall League season is now three weeks old. Through the first three weeks there have been seven Pittsburgh Pirates prospects plying for the Surprise Saguaros. Let’s take our weekly look at how they have been performing.

Quinn Priester is the lone starting pitching prospect the Pirates have playing in the AFL, but is one of three former first-round picks. The 2019 first-round pick has made four starts thus far, pitching 15.0 innings.

Priester owns a 4.80 ERA in his 15 innings of work. He has allowed 14 hits, two home runs, has walked six batters, and struck out 14. Even with a less than savory ERA, it is still good to see Priester logging innings this fall.

A trio of relief pitching prospects are on the Saguaros roster, this includes lefty Omar Cruz. Acquired in the Joe Musgrove trade, Cruz has pitched 8.2 innings in five relief outings. Cruz has posted a sparkling 1.04 ERA, allowing just four hits. He has not allowed a home run and struck out seven batters, however, he has struggled with control having walked eight batters.

Right-handed relievers Tahnaj Thomas and Colin Selby are also pitching for the Saguaros. Due to one poor outing Thomas owns an 11.12 ERA in 5.2 innings pitched. However, he’s walked just four batters while striking out seven.

As for Selby, he has allowed 2 earned runs on six hits in 5.0 innings pitched. Selby has not allowed a home run, while walking three batters and striking out six. With a strong AFL season following up a strong minor league season, Selby could be in position to make his MLB debut at some point during the 2023 season.