Grading the last 10 Pirates’ first-round draft picks

2020: Nick Gonzales, B+

After the 2023 season, fans lost a lot of hope for Nick Gonzales, but it was just his rookie season. He made some changes and is now establishing himself as the Pirates' everyday second baseman. In his second major league season, Gonzales has been great.

This season, Gonzales has a batting average of .272 with five home runs and 32 runs batted in. He also has an OPS of .721, which includes an on-base percentage of .311 and a slugging percentage of .411. His wRC+ is at 99, and his strikeout percentage sits at 22.7%.

He is graded a B+ because he has a little more to prove at the big-league level. He has impressed many people, but he needs to remain consistent.

2019: Quinn Priester, D+

Quinn Priester is finally a part of the Pirates after spending four seasons in the minor leagues. He has had a solid career in the minors, but it has not translated to the big league level. In 2023, he got his first taste of MLB and struggled badly. His earned run average was 7.74 and his WHIP sat at 1.70. After a solid stretch in Triple-A in 2024, Priester got another chance, but struggled and then found himself on the injured list.

He has returned, though, and recently delivered one of his best starts of his career. On the season, Priester has a 1-5 record with an earned run average of 4.30 in 37.2 innings pitched and has struck out 28 batters. Opponents are batting .272 against him, and his WHIP is at an elevated 1.46. He could be improving, though; his xFIP is at 3.89, which is not bad at all.

Still, Priester has earned a D+ because of how poorly he has done in the big leagues. The Pirates should not give up on him at all, but he has not been great in the majors.