Best and worst performers at every level of Pirates farm system in 2024

The 2024 season for the Pittsburgh Pirates organization featured renewed hope at the MLB level, muted down the stretch by a crushing losing streak. Below the surface, expectations were tempered in the minor-leagues, too; plenty of prospects took the next steps in their development and had solid years, but there were also significant names who did the opposite.

Let's take a look at the top performer and worst performer from each minor league affiliate in the Pirates organization.

Who were the best and worst performers at each level of the Pirates farm system?

Triple-A: Indianapolis Indians

The best overall performer in 2024 from the Indianapolis Indians was Matt Gorski. At 26 years old, Gorski has had a slow minor league career, but in 2024, he had an impressive season. The campaign turned some heads and could get him out of the minor leagues in 2025.

Last season, Gorski slugged his way to a .841 OPS, which was carried by his .522 slugging percentage. That came from 23 home runs, 24 doubles, and five triples. His wRC+ finished at 110 and he stole 11 bases.

He has shown to be a very solid power hitter, but one issue stands tall for Gorski. His strikeout rate is high at 28.6% and his whiff rate for 2024 finished at 37.3%. If he put the ball in play more consistently, he probably would have made his debut by now. Overall, though, 2024 was an excellent season for Gorski, and it was the best amongst all Triple-A Pirates.

The worst player for the Indians in 2024 was Michael Plassmeyer. After making a few appearances with the Phillies in 2022 and 2023, the Pirates signed the southpaw to a minor league contract.

Plassmeyer struggled in his 70.2 innings last season, posting an earned run average of 7.22 and an opposing batting average of .321. That inflated his WHIP to 1.55, but he was effective at keeping the ball in the strike zone, as he allowed just a 4.0% walk rate. Along with his impressive walk rate, his FIP was at 4.14, but despite a few positives, his season was really bad, making him the worst player on the Indians in 2024.

Double-A: Altoona Curve

The best overall performer for the Altoona Curve in 2024 was Po-Yu Chen, who turned in his best professional season. Although top prospects Bubba Chandler and Thomas Harrington both posted solid partial seasons during their time with Altoona, they posted nowhere near the amount of innings Chen did, which makes his season much more significant.

Chen finished the 2024 season with a 4.03 earned run average in 134 innings pitched and struck out 96 hitters. Opponents had a batting average of .251 against him. Chen finished with a WHIP of 1.29 and a FIP of 4.34, but take away a poor April, and he had a 3.55 earned run average. He is one of the most underrated prospects in the Pirates organization.

The worst player for the Curve last season was Jackson Glenn. The 27-year-old infielder turned around a very poor season after showing multiple seasons of success.

In 2024, Glenn posted a batting average of .192 with four home runs and 20 runs batted in. His OPS was very low at .538 and his wRC+ sat at 56. He struck out at a 30.1% rate and he walked at a 7.6% rate. This season was not great for Glenn at all, ranking as the worst for the Pirates' Double-A club.

High-A: Greensboro Grasshoppers

The best overall player with the Pirates High-A affiliate was Alessandro Ercolani. Along with Chen, Ercolani is another extremely underrated pitching prospect in the Pittsburgh organization and he proved that in 2024.

Ercolani posted a 3.29 earned run average in 76.2 innings pitched and struck out 93 hitters in 2024. Opponents hit just .202 against him to go along with his impressive 1.08 WHIP and FIP of 3.50. He put up these numbers in split roles as a starter and reliever.

The worst player for the Grasshoppers was Lonnie White, the Pirates' 21st ranked prospect. He was originally ranked higher in the organization, but his injuries and poor 2024 made him fall down the chart.

Last season, White had a batting average of .167 with 14 home runs and 44 runs driven in. He stole 15 bases, but struck out at 34.4% rate. His OPS sat at .614 and his wRC+ 80. This was a very dissapointing season for White, but he still has all the tools to turn it around.

Single-A: Bradenton Marauders

The best player from the Pirates' lowest full-season rung was Carlson Reed, the 30th-ranked prospect in the system. He took off in 2024, just one year after being drafted.

Last season, Reed posted an earned run average of 2.43 in 77.2 innings pitched and struck out 96 batters. Opponents had a batting average of .198 against him, and his WHIP of 1.25 and FIP of 3.49 sparkled. He looked even better when he got promoted to Greensboro, which is helping him emerge as a very solid prospect for the Pirates.

The worst player in Bradenton last season was Luigi Hernandez. He has been in the Pittsburgh organization since 2021 and arguably posted his worst season in 2024.

A season ago, Hernandez posted a 7.11 earned run average in 57 innings pitched and had a WHIP of 1.93. Opponents hit .250 against him and he is walking batters at a 19.6% rate.