3 biggest Pittsburgh Pirates prospect breakouts of 2024

Every year, baseball teams used to trading in hope are gifted with a new batch of prospect breakouts to make their pipelines a bit more appealing. Last year for the Pittsburgh Pirates, the likes of Jack Brannigan and Lonnie White Jr., along with Braxton Ashcraft, represented some notable names who took a step forward.

Luckily, the Pirates have seen an additional group of impressive prospects break out this year. Most have been pitchers, and their breakouts could affect how the Pirates approach this offseason, as well as their long-term plans.

3 breakout Pirates prospects to keep an eye on after 2024 season

Carlson Reed

The Pirates drafted Carlson Reed last year in the fifth round. The right-hander from West Virginia University has pitched most of his season at Bradenton before recently getting promoted to Greensboro. During his time with the Marauders, Reed pitched 77.2 innings, working to a 2.43 ERA, 3.47 FIP, and 1.25 WHIP.

Reed struck out his fair share of batters with a K% clocking in at 29.7%. He also was not prone to the long ball, with a HR/9 rate of 0.47, and induced a ground ball 55.7% of the time. Batters had a hard time ever making contact off of him. Reed induced a swing and miss 32.2% of the time, and when opposing hitters did hit the ball, they only managed to produce an average exit velocity of 85.4 MPH with a 3.3% barrel rate.

Since getting promoted to Greensboro, the young right-hander has only continued to pitch well. He has made four starts, pitching 18.2 innings (one outing was shortened due to rain), only allowing one earned run. Reed has continued to strike out batters at a high rate, with 23 Ks and a 31.1% K%. Luckily, walks have been much less of an issue thus far, as he’s only handed out seven free passes with a 9.5% walk rate.

Reed’s numbers are great, but the biggest development is that this is the first time since at least high school he has made double-digit starts while remaining effective. The Pirates drafted Reed as a reliever from West Virginia University. In his final season, he pitched 38 innings, all out of the 'pen, working to a 2.61 ERA, 34.7% strikeout rate, 14.5% walk rate, and 0.5 HR/9. He saved seven games for the Mountaineers. However, in 2021 and 2022, he struggled while working both out of the bullpen and rotation.

Heading into the draft, many projected him to eventually move to the bullpen, given his mediocre command. That could still be the case, but Reed is now approaching 100 innings pitched and has continued to dominate after getting promoted to the next level of the minor leagues. Double-A will be Reed’s biggest test, whenever he gets promoted to Altoona. But so far, Reed’s ability to work as a starting pitcher after struggling to do so in college has been impressive nonetheless.