3 underrated Pirates pitching prospects having strong seasons

Mike Walsh

Mike Walsh had a promising start to his 2023 season. The former ninth-round pick from 2022 pitched 9.1 innings in ‘23, allowing just two earned runs and striking out 11 with three walks. Unfortunately, those would be the only innings he pitched that year, succumbing to an early injury. Walsh would open 2024 once again at Bradenton and pitched very well in a larger sample size of 27.1 innings. Walsh had an ERA below 1.00 at 0.93, along with a 2.29 FIP and 0.69 WHIP.

Walsh struck out over a quarter of his opponents faced at the level this year, sporting a 26.9% K%. He also rarely handed out free passes, clocking in with a 3.8% BB%. Walsh was completely immune to home runs. He didn’t allow a single long ball and held opposing hitters to an 82.5 MPH average exit velocity and zero percent barrel rate.

This performance earned him a promotion to Greensboro, where he has continued to pitch well. He’s only logged 5.1 innings for the Grasshoppers, but has allowed just a single earned run. He has walked three, but has also struck out six. The righty relief prospect allowed his first home run of the season with Greensboro.

Walsh throws both a four-seam fastball and a two-seam fastball. Both sit around 92-93 MPH. He’ll also throw an upper-80s cutter with above-average movement. Walsh’s second breaking pitch in his arsenal is his curveball that has good horizontal movement. Walsh is 23 years old, so he could be an option for the Pirates’ bullpen next season if he continues to pitch well.