5 best Pittsburgh Pirates pitching prospects who rely on more than pure heat

Michael Kennedy

The Pirates always take at least one high school pitcher with high upside in the Ben Cherington era. In 2022, that was Michael Kennedy. Kennedy was a fourth-round pick from Troy High School in New York. After a strong showing in the second half of 2023 between the Florida Complex League and A-Ball Bradenton, Kennedy has continued his dominance with the Marauders, followed by a shot with the High-A Greensboro Grasshoppers.

Between the two levels, Kennedy owns a 3.66 ERA, 3.50 FIP, and 1.09 WHIP in 83.2 IP. He has struck out his fair share of opponents, carrying a 27.8% strikeout rate, and has done well to limit home runs with an 0.86 HR/9. Notably, he’s been especially good at preventing free passes, as his walk rate currently sits at 5.6%.

Kennedy has been excellent in the second half. His ERA is below 2.00 (1.80) with an even better 30.4% strikeout rate. Home runs have basically been a non-issue, as he’s allowed a single long ball over his last 30 innings of work. Kennedy continues to limit base runners with a 7% walk rate and 0.80 WHIP.

Kennedy averaged just 89.8 MPH this year prior to his promotion. His fastest four-seamer was tracked at 93.1 MPH. The lefty has a pair of secondary offerings. His low-80s slider has 39 inches of drop with 13.3 inches of break. Kennedy’s offspeed pitch is a low-to-mid-80s changeup with about 37 inches of drop and 11 inches of horizontal movement. 

Kennedy projects to have plus command, which he has paired with an elite walk rate. There are currently over 500 minor leaguers with at least 15 games started this year, and Kennedy has the 34th lowest BB%. His 5.00 K:BB ratio is also the 14th best. The most extraordinary part of Kennedy’s campaign is that he’s doing such advanced work at just 19.