Pirates' piece from Bailey Falter trade caps ridiculous week with well-deserved honor

Now that the MLB Trade Deadline dust has settled, it is time to begin paying closer attention to the prospects Pittsburgh got in return. It is easy to see what some are up to when they are awarded with significant honors. That is exactly what the Pirates saw this week, with their main piece in the Bailey Falter trade getting a well-deserved nod for his impressive organizational debut.

Callan Moss was an unranked first base prospect with the Royals when the Pirates acquired him, surprisingly finding himself included in the two-man return for Falter. While fans expected more for a left-handed starter with an above-average ERA and three years of control, Evan Sisk and Moss was all Pittsburgh could get.

In just eight games, Moss is lighting things up in High-A Greensboro and was named the South Atlantic League Player of the Week. He earned this by picking up 12 hits, including two home runs and eight RBI through five games against the Astros' High-A affiliate.

On top of that, his on-base percentage reached .615 and his slugging got to 1.000. It was a monster first impression from Moss, who had a 125 wRC+ in High-A with Kansas City. A possible promotion to Double-A could be next.

Pirates' main piece from the Bailey Falter trade, Callan Moss, is not alone. Unranked Ivan Brethowr is another deadline acquisition breaking out.

Moss wasn't the only unheralded name to land softly in the Pirates' organization.

The Pirates really were targeting whatever they could get in exchange for reliever Taylor Rogers, who they were desperate to flip. Ivan Brethowr, added from the Cubs in the deal, was an under-the-radar addition.

Also unranked by major outlets, he had posted a 114 wRC+ with the Cubs' High-A affiliate and was a seventh-rounder in 2024. In just six games with Greensboro, he is batting .400 with a home run and six RBI. His 1.238 OPS is remarkable as well.

Two under-the-radar trade acquisitions are doing very well for the Pirates down in Greensboro. For as much complaining as this fanbase has done about this trade deadline, maybe it's fair to say it wasn't as bad as fans thought. It's also fair to say it's way too early to judge, after less than 10 games.

Getting two guys who are off to hot starts is a great first sign. The real test will be in Double-A, and hopefully they get a taste of that level before the season is over.