Pirates pitching prospect who desperately needed bounce back succumbs to injury

The pitching in the Pirates' farm system has been very exciting in 2025 as guys like Bubba Chandler and Hunter Barco lead the charge. The first month just passed and those two won pitchers of the month for their respective leagues. It's possible they may get their chance in the big leagues soon, but they're not the only one fans should keep an eye on.

Anthony Solometo, who is recovering from injury, was the Pirates top-ranked southpaw prospect in 2024, coming in at fourth overall in the organization and 82nd in all of baseball, according to MLB Pipeline. That hype around his name put the spotlight on a very forgettable season where his ERA jumped to 5.37. He also sported a weak 1.52 WHIP and a low K/9 of 6.78.

That had him drop to the 14th-ranked prospect in the organization, and something had to be done. During spring training, Solometo actually got his velocity up a little from where it dropped in 2024. In the spring, it got back up to 91-92 after being averaging around 90 in 2024. That made a huge difference in his effectiveness at the start of the season.

Through two starts to open up 2025, Solometo tossed 10 innings, allowing just one run and striking out seven. He also gave up two hits and four walks, maintaining a sterling 0.60 WHIP. Things were starting to look very good for Solometo, but then he landed on the seven-day injured list.

Pirates prospect Anthony Solometo lost his momentum after injury

According to Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette back on April 23, Solometo was dealing with shoulder issues, requiring him to be shut down for a few weeks before being built back up to start.

That is the complete opposite of what the Pirates needed to happen to get the young left-hander going. Those strong 10 innings to open up the season were exactly what Solometo needed to get his bounce-back season started. It is unclear when he will return to game action, but he should begin throwing soon.

With Barco getting the promotion to Triple-A, Solometo returns to being the lone ranked pitching prospect with the Altoona Curve. He has all the spotlight and this return will be exciting to see, especially if that velocity uptick can remain post-injury.