Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects Most Likely to Be Protected From Rule 5 Draft

Catcher Endy Rodriguez

Few prospects in the Pirate farm system had a stronger, more impressive 2022 season than catcher Endy Rodriguez. To be honest, few prospects in all of baseball performed as well as Rodriguez did in the second half of the season.

The 2022 season saw Rodriguez play at three levels – High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A. Across the three levels Rodriguez hit for a .323/.407/.590 slash line with 25 home runs, an 11.9% walk rate, and a wRC+ of 166.

Rodriguez has become one of the top catching prospects in baseball, as well as being a consensus top 100 prospect. He will likely join the Pittsburgh Pirates active roster at some point during the 2023 season.

The switch hitting Rodriguez is an absolute lock to be protected from the Rule 5 Draft. If he were not added ot the 40-man roster he would undoubtedly be selected in the Rule 5 Draft. Hell, he’d likely be the top overall pick.

Starting pitcher Mike Burrows

The 2022 season was a big one for Pirate pitching prospect Mike Burrows. Entering the season he was one of the team’s top prospects, but there were questions if his future would be as a relief pitcher or as a starting pitcher.

Burrows needed to add a third pitch to make sure his future would be as a starter. Burrows not only added a third pitch, but the changeup he would add went on to become a plus pitch for Burrows.

After making 12 starts for Double-A Altoona, Burrows would be promoted to the Triple-A level. Burrows went on to pitch in 12 games, 10 starts, for the Indianapolis Indians. Putting himself on the doorstep of the major leagues.

Across the two levels Burrows posted a 4.01 ERA in 94.1 innings pitched. His 3.29 FIP painted a prettier picture than his ERA, an ERA that was hurt by one disastrous outing at Triple-A. With just 94.1 innings pitched, it made it more difficult to bring that ERA down.

Burrows is a spin rate expert with three plus pitches. He walked just 7.9% of batters faced last season while striking out a healthy 28.2%. He allowed home runs at just a 0.76 HR/9 rate while limiting opposing batters to a .231 batting average.

Adding Burrows to the 40-man roster will be a no brainer move. By mid-summer, he should be entrenched in the starting rotation of the Pittsburgh Pirates. If he were to be left unprotected, he would be the most highly sought after pitcher in the Rule 5 Draft.

Outfielder Matt Gorski

Few players in the Pirate farm system is more overlooked than outfielder Matt Gorski. Selected 57th overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2019 MLB Draft, Gorski had a big breakout campaign in 2022.

Gorski would end up missing a big chunk of 2022 due to injury, including having his season ended early due to injury, he led all minor league hitters in home runs. Not just all minor league hitters in the Pittsburgh Pirates farm system, but all minor league hitters across baseball.

The 24-year-old started the season with High-A Greensboro before moving up to Double-A Altoona. Gorski also got two plate appearances with the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians in September before his season ended early due to injury.

Across the three levels Gorksi had 325 PAs, hitting for a .280/.358/.598 slash line with 24 home runs. Gorski collected extra base hits at a 12.0% clip, to go with a 10.2% walk rate and a wRC+ of 153.

Even though Gorski has just two PAs above the Double-A level, with his power potential, if left unprotected, he would almost assuredly be selected in the Rule 5 Draft. MLB teams are always looking for power, and someone would likely gamble on his power. Look for Gorski to be added to the 40-man roster.

First baseman/designated hitter Malcolm Nuñez

At this past summer’s trade deadline the Pittsburgh Pirates traded starting pitcher José Quintana to the St. Louis Cardinals. In the rare inner-division trade, the Bucs acquired two prospects. Pitcher Johan Oviedo, who has already made an impact for the Pirates, and power hitting first baseman/designated hitter Malcolm Nuñez.

Nuñez is likely viewed by Pirate brass as a big piece of their long-term future. He could be the team’s first baseman of the future or their designated hitter of the future. Either way, the power-hitting righty likely has a big future ahead in Pittsburgh.

Between the Double-A affiliates of the Pirates and Cardinals, as well as Triple-A Indianapolis, Nuñez had 493 PAs this past season. He hit for a .262/.367/.466 slash line to go with a very strong 14.0% walk rate, 23 home runs, 16 doubles, and a 117 wRC+.

As we mentioned with Gorksi, power hitters like Nuñez can intrigue teams in the Rule 5 Draft. After all, every team is always looking for more power. This will lead ot Nuñez being added to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft. Additionally, if the Pittsburgh Pirates did not intend to add Nuñez to the 40-man roster they likely would not have traded for him.