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Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Three Storylines to Follow in 2024

Let's look at three storylines to follow among the Pirates' top prospects.

By Noah Wright |
Altoona Curve starting pitcher Paul Skenes throws against the Erie SeaWolves at UPMC Park in Erie on
Altoona Curve starting pitcher Paul Skenes throws against the Erie SeaWolves at UPMC Park in Erie on / GREG WOHLFORD/ERIE TIMES-NEWS / USA
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These are three potential storylines to follow among the Pittsburgh Pirates top prospects next season

The Pittsburgh Pirates have a handful of interesting prospects in their minor league system. Many took a step forward last year and made for an interesting story. We are now in the year 2024, and before you know it, baseball season is going to be upon us. We're still about three months away from the start of the regular season, but let's preview a few storylines to follow for this upcoming season.

Bubba Chandler's second half and Altoona

Bubba Chandler has two storylines for the 2024 season. The first is if he can continue to be dominant after his outstanding second half. Chandler pitched 48.2 innings after the All-Star break, working to a phenomenal 1.66 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, and 3.85 FIP. Chandler significantly cut his walk rate down from 12.5% in the first half to just 7.2% after the break. He also carried a quality 28.2% strikeout rate with a respectable 0.92 HR/9.

Chandler greatly struggled with limiting free passes, which was one of the major reasons for his first-half struggles. But in six of his nine post All-Star game starts, Chandler allowed two or fewer walks and never allowed more than three. He also went at least five innings in eight of his second-half outings.

The second storyline to follow regarding Chandler is how he will fare at Double-A. Chandler's final start of the season was for Altoona where he reeled off five near perfect innings with eight strikeouts. He allowed just one hit in his Altoona debut. The jump between High-A and Double-A is considered the most important and largest jump across all minor league levels.

Chandler's ERA from the second half of 2023 could double next year and he'd still have an ERA under 3.50. If Chandler pitches anything like he did in July-September last year, he could easily get to the majors by summer.

When does Paul Skenes debut?

Paul Skenes was the Pirates' first-round pick in 2023 and the first overall pick in the draft. Considered the best pitching draft prospect since Gerrit Cole and Stephen Strasburg, Skenes' signing bonus broke the previous record. Now, the question on everyone's mind is when will the Pirates get Skenes in the big leagues?

The Pirates were very strict on Skenes' workload once he reached the minor leagues. He pitched just 6.2 frames in five games. That's because he was used extremely heavily last year for Louisiana State University. He threw 122.2 innings prior to getting drafted. Including the 6.2 innings he pitched between four minor league levels, Skenes' workload from 2022 increased by nearly 45 innings.

Upping Skenes' workload to ~150 innings would only be increasing it by about 20 innings. That's a fairly reasonable and acceptable amount of innings without getting into concerns about overworking him and causing potential injury. The question now remains when Skenes will get to the bigs.

While the Pirates put Skenes on a strict regimen, they were not shy about moving him up each rung of the minor leagues. Skenes made his debut at the Pirates' Florida Complex League affiliate. But he pitched his last game of the season at Double-A Altoona. That's probably where he will start the 2024 season. Only time will tell when Skenes gets promoted, but I'd guess that as long as things go relatively according to plan, we will see him sometime in May.

Arrival of other pitching prospects

Skenes and Chandler aren't the only Pirates' top pitching prospects who should arrive in the majors next season. There are plenty more who could solidify the starting rotation throughout the year. The Pirates are relying a decent amount on some of these guys to eventually secure a rotation spot.

Jared Jones posted above-average numbers at Triple-A, as did Anthony Solometo. Both made significant steps forward in 2023. Jones' control has improved, and he quickly adapted to the automatic ball-strike system implemented at Triple-A despite starting the year at Double-A, where that was not used. Solometo has gained a few ticks of velocity while maintaining his outstanding command.

There are plenty more pitching prospects on the horizon. The Pirates added Braxton Ashcraft to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. Regardless of whether he ends up as a starting pitcher or reliever, he's on pace to make his debut next year. Jackson Wolf is a side-arm lefty who was added to the 40-man roster when the Pirates acquired him from the San Diego Padres. Wolf has already made his MLB debut but will be one of Triple-A Indianapolis' starters to open the year.

The Pirates will also see Mike Burrows return, leading to another potential starting pitching option. Burrows likely would have gotten a chance at a starting rotation spot last year had it not been for April Tommy John surgery. He is another potential summer reinforcement.

Next. Ashcrft Future Impact. Potential Future Impact of Braxton Ashcraft. dark

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