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4 Pittsburgh Pirates prospects who are having unlucky (but promising) seasons

Getting unlucky can happen quite often in baseball, but that shouldn't decrease a prospect's value.

ByNoah Wright|
May 24, 2022; Hoover, AL, USA; Jaden Woods pitches for the Bulldogs as Alabama faced Georgia in game one of the SEC Tournament at Hoover Met. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-The Tuscaloosa News Ncaa Baseball Sec Baseball Tournament Alabama Crimson Tide At Georgia Bulldogs
May 24, 2022; Hoover, AL, USA; Jaden Woods pitches for the Bulldogs as Alabama faced Georgia in game one of the SEC Tournament at Hoover Met. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-The Tuscaloosa News Ncaa Baseball Sec Baseball Tournament Alabama Crimson Tide At Georgia Bulldogs | Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK
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Jaden Woods

Jaden Woods was a 2023 draft pick and one of the Pirates' best relief prospects. While Woods hasn't induced the results he likely would have wanted, his stuff backs his peripherals up. With the Pirates lacking any left-handed bullpen depth under control for 2025, Woods could potentially play a role in the Bucs' bullpen sometime next year.

Woods has pitched 52.1 innings between Greensboro and Altoona with a 4.30 ERA on the year, but he has struck out nearly 30% of his opponents, with a 29.2% strikeout rate and a solid 0.86 HR/9. His walk rate sits at 11%, but there are multiple reasons that he could improve upon his ERA.

Woods has a .344 batting average on balls in play while having a 21.4% line drive rate, 44.3% ground ball rate, and 34.4% flyball rate. He has been particularly unlucky with batted balls since reaching Double-A, with a .386 mark. Despite that high BABIP, he's giving up fewer liners and inducing more ground balls.

Woods has the best fastball of any of the prospects examined in this piece. As a reliever, he sits mid-90s with his fastball. His slider has also flashed above-average potential. Woods will occasionally fold in a changeup, but it's clearly behind his fastball/slider and is the main reason why he will likely remain in the bullpen long-term.

Woods is only 22 and is already at Double-A. The Pirates don't have any lefty relievers currently under contract for the 2025 season. While Woods may not break camp with the team, if he continues to show promise in the upper levels of the minor leagues, he could potentially be a factor in the bullpen sometime during next season. 

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