Five Pittsburgh Pirates prospects ranked on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 for 2024

Five members of the Pittsburgh Pirates farm system have been named to MLB Pipeline's top 100 prospects for the 2024 season. The Top 100 list was announced on Friday on MLB Network.

The Pirates five representatives is tied for third most in all of baseball alongside the San Diego Padrers and Cincinnati Reds. Only the Chicago Cubs with seven and Baltimore Orioles with six have more players represented within the top 100.

The five representatives are one more than the four the organization finished the 2023 season with, within the top 100.

RHP Paul Skenes

After finishing last season as the No. 3 porpsect in all of baseball, 2023 first overall pick Paul Skenes once again fills in at the No. 3 spot in the rankings. The only players ranked ahead of Skenes are Baltimore Orioles infielder Jackson Holliday and Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio, who signed an eight-year, $82 million extension this offseason with the Brewers.

Like both Holliday and Chourio, Skenes is projected to make his MLB debut this upcoming season. "He has all the makings of a frontline starter," MLB Pipeline's scouting report reads for Skenes. "One who should not take very long to make his presence felt in Pittsburgh."

MLB Pipeline graded out Skenes' in the following manner;

Fastball: 80
Slider: 70
Changeup: 55
Control: 60
Overall: 65

2B Termarr Johnson

Johnson took a bit of a tumble in this year's rankings, dropping from his final spot in 2023 of 22 to 44 to start the 2024 season. In his first full season in professional baseball, Johnson hit .244/.422/.438 with 18 home runs and 31 total extra-base hits in 349 at-bats. He also had 59 RBI and 83 runs scored on the season.

"A shortstop as an amateur, Johnson has settled in professionally at second base and should be just fine at the keystone with decent range, hands and enough arm," his scouting report says. "His bat will carry him to the big leagues and there’s excitement about what he can do, assuming health, to live up to his Draft billing."

His projected ETA to the Major League is 2025.

MLB Pipeline graded out Johnson in the following way;

Hit: 55
Power: 55
Run: 50
Arm: 50
Field: 55
Overall: 55

RHP Jared Jones

Another prospect that MLB Pipeline has projected to make his MLB Debut this season, Jared Jones is at No. 62 in the latest rankings, up seven spots from his final spot of No. 69 last season.

They said the following about Jones and his rise in his scouting report.

"Jones has made strides in his strike-throwing ability and tends to be around the zone, though he’s more control than command at this point," it states. "More than anything, his maturity on the mound has been the top reason for his rise, with him keeping his emotions in check when things go wrong."

Jones last season pitched his way to a 3.85 ERA in 126.1 innings pitched across 26 games and 25 starts with Double A Altoona and Triple A Indinaapolis. He struck out 146 in the process while walking 50. Opponents were kept to a .227 batting average against.

MLB Pipeline graded out Jones as follows;

Fastball: 65
Curveball: 55
Slider: 55
Changeup: 50
Control: 45
Overall: 55

RHP Bubba Chandler

The final prospect listed amongst the top 100 is right-handed pitcher Bubba Chandler. He enters the top-100 after a quality 2023 season in which he played at both High-A Greensboro and Double-A Altoona.

While Chandler's stats of a 4.54 ERA in 25 games and 111 innings pitched, the former two-sport athlete was very impressive in the second half of the season last season.

"After struggling early in the year, Chandler made some excellent adjustments in terms of routine and preparation," MLB Pipeline said in his scouting report. "Allowing him to post a 1.66 ERA and .163 batting average against over his last nine starts following the All-Star break."

The Pirates hope Chandler will be able to carry that success of the second half over into the 2024 season. His projected ETA to the Major League is 2025.

MLB Pipeline grades out Chandler's pitching arsenal in the following way;

Fastball: 60
Curveball: 50
Slider: 55
Changeup: 50
Control: 50
Overall: 55