Pittsburgh Pirates: Checking in on Ben Cherington's Most Significant International Signings

Let's take a look at where Ben Cherington's most significant international signings are right now since he became general manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates and general manager Ben Cherington have been fairly aggressive in the amateur international market since he took over as GM. The 2023-2024 offseason will mark the fourth off-season as his tenure as the Pirates’ GM. Throughout that time, he’s signed multiple, highly ranked international prospects, and he's already being aggressive this offseason with young international guys again. But where are some of these prospects now, and could we expect to see any next season?

We will start with his first notable international signings, and that was Solomon Maguire. Maguire was the first large international signing Cherington made, with his signing bonus coming in at nearly $600K. Maguire has yet to live up to that potential, however, with a .597 OPS through his professional career, which has amounted to just 200 plate appearances. 

However, Maguire is still young, with 2024 being his age-21 campaign, and was hurt for most of 2023. Maguire was praised for his outstanding athleticism and the ceiling of a five-tool player when the Pirates signed him. Given his age, and the fact he’s yet to even receive 300 minor league plate appearances, I wouldn’t rule him out just yet.

But one of the top international free agents Cherington signed in 2020 who has looked promising is Po-Yu Chen. Chen was the top high school talent out of Taiwan at the time of his signing. Chen got off to a poor start to 2023, but after struggling in April, he got things back on track. His final 100.1 innings saw him pitch to the tune of a 3.77 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and 4.90 FIP. Chen had a quality 25.6% K% and 8.4% walk rate, but a poor 1.44 HR/9. Chen also struggled in September, with 15 of the 59 earned runs he allowed coming in his final four outings.

Chen is considered a low-floor/high-ceiling pitcher. He has a wide, but not overpowering arsenal of pitches. He sits in the low-90s with his fastball and also throws a curveball, slider, and splitter. His four-seamer, curve, and slider are average pitches at their best. But his splitter is a plus offering, and he has displayed above-average command with an advanced feel for pitching. Chen turned 22 at the beginning of September, and will likely open the 2024 campaign at Altoona, so you may see him in the big leagues sometime in 2024 if he performs well.

Outfielder Shalin Polanco

The big signing the following off-season was outfielder Shalin Polanco. After two middling seasons in the Dominican Summer League and Florida Complex League, Polanco started to find his footing at A-Ball Bradenton. Polanco was on a hot streak at one point, batting .278/.340/.493 with a .380 wOBA, and 120 wRC+ through his final 164 plate appearances. He clocked in with an 8.5% walk rate, but mediocre 26.2% strikeout rate. But Polanco hit for above-average power, posting a .215 isolated slugging percentage. However, Polanco’s season was cut short in July due to injuries.

Polanco has five tool potential, but he’s still a raw prospect. He has added strength while still showing an above-average ability to run. He may also stick in center field long term. Polanco still has some projectability, which could further add to his power potential. All five of his weapons have the potential to at least be a 50-grade (average). Polanco turns 20 in the first week of February, but the fact he was able to post decent numbers at Bradenton this year before his season was cut short is nothing to scoff at.

Outfielder Tony Blanco Jr.

They also landed outfielder/first baseman Tony Blanco Jr. Blanco Jr. has one of the highest offensive ceilings in the system. A towering 6’6”, 245 pound presence in the box, Blanco Jr. obviously has the potential to be a 40 homer threat. But so far in his brief pro career, which is all of 176 plate appearances, he’s struck out at a 39.2% rate. That’s not atypical for a guy his size. His massive frame also means he’ll likely remain at first base long-term.

The Pirates tried Blanco Jr. out in the outfield in 2022, as he was signed primarily as an outfielder, but only took the field as a first baseman this past season.

Other notable players

We’re not done with the Pirates’ 2021-2022 international class. The next large signing they inked was with catcher Axiel Plaz. Plaz had a 209 wRC+ in his brief 2022 season, but struggled to an 81 wRC+ at the FCL in 2023. But Plaz has yet to record 150+ plate appearances at any minor league level. Plaz has the potential to be an above average hitting defensive catcher with some pop. He was one of the highest paid players from this international class.

Then we have Pitterson Rosa, one of the higher profile international pitchers the Pirates signed. Rosa pitched well in 2022, but struggled in 2023. Keep in mind, however, that he has barely pitched 50 innings. Like most international guys, Rosa is a projectable pitcher, standing at 6’2”, 178-LBS. He is an athletic pitching having moved from the outfield to the mound. Rosa is still 18 and won’t turn 19 until the last days of November.

Finally, we have Hung-Leng Chang. The Taiwaneese right-hander also had a promising 2022 campaign and continued to pitch well early into the ‘23 season at the FCL, before struggling the following season at Bradenton. He walked the same amount of batters he struck out, with a dozen each while allowing seven homers in 25.1 innings. Chang is a projectable pitcher, weighing in at 6’1”, but a lanky 160-LBS. Chang has a wide variety of pitches. His sinker and four-seamer sit in the low-90s, while also throwing a slider, change-up, curveball, and cutter. Chang just turned 22, and was one of six international free agents to sign for at least $350K that off-season.

Last off-season, the Pirates went big once again, signing two of the top 30 international prospects ranked on MLB Pipeline’s top international prospect list. Of the two, Jun-Seok Shim was the best. Shim was projected to be the best pitcher and a potential number one overall selection in the KBO draft. But he instead opted to go to the United States to search for an opportunity with a Major League team.

Shim is already sitting mid-upper-90s, and topping out at the triple-digits before his 20th birthday. He also has a 12-6 curveball with plus potential. Both his slider and change-up could become average offerings in his arsenal. Shim is a big kid, listed at 6’4”, 215-LBS already. But he should eventually develop solid command. Scouts liked his arm action, as well as his athleticism on the mound. Plus he already showed a decent feel for everything.

The other highly noteworthy player is Raymond Mola. A 17-year-old outfielder, Mola is already a strong-built prospect at 6’2”, 190-LBS. Mola has above average power potential, though his hit tool will be key to his development, according to MLB Pipeline. He’s an average defender who runs decently, and has a strong arm. He’ll likely move to a corner outfield spot long term. 

As is expected, even though we are going back to 2020, few are going to be MLB ready by the end of the 2024 season. Of the ones mentioned today, Chen has the likeliest chance to make his debut. I think that if he stays healthy and continues to pitch well, he’ll at least make his debut. But there are a handful of potential fast risers. If Shim stays healthy next season, he could become one of the Pirates’ best prospects. Blanco Jr. and De Los Santos are also breakout candidates to watch.