Pittsburgh Pirates 2023 Minor League Players of the Year: Low-A Bradenton

Who were the best pitcher and hitter for Low-A Bradenton this season?

Tampa Tarpons won 4-1 over the Bradenton Marauders at Bradenton's LECOM Park Wednesday evening June,
Tampa Tarpons won 4-1 over the Bradenton Marauders at Bradenton's LECOM Park Wednesday evening June, | THOMAS BENDER/HERALD-TRIBUNE / USA TODAY
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Pitcher - Owen Kellington

This was a tough decision between Owen Kellington and Derek Diamond, but we'll give the slight edge to Kellington. The 20-year-old Kellington's 18 starts led the team, his 23 appearances were the most for any pitcher that was not a full-time reliever, and he was second on the club in innings pitched with 80.

Kellington posted a 3.94 ERA and a 4.77 FIP in his 80 innings pitched. While his 14.5% walk rate was higher than you want to see, and his biggest issue for the season, he had a strong 26.2% strikeout rate. He allowed 8 home runs (0.90 HR/9) while limiting opposing batters to just a .212 batting average.

Looking ahead to 2024, the Pirates may face a decision on where they want to start Kellington. He's only pitched 90 professional innings to this point so having him start the season back in Bradenton could make sense. At the same time, there's an argument for being aggressive and having him start with Greensboro. Either way, Kellington will be an intriguing arm to watch throughout the 2024 season.

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