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Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Two Break Out Candidates for 2023
Every season each MLB organization has prospects who break out in the minor leagues, in 2023 these two Pittsburgh Pirates prospects could be in line for a breakout campaign
One of the many things that make baseball unique from other sports is the importance of farm systems. While hockey has a minor league setup similar to baseball, the development of prospects and promotion of them during the season is not nearly as prevalent as it is in baseball. In football and basketball, no such thing exists.
Now, fans of the Pittsburgh Pirates may be tired of hearing about prospects and the minor leagues. This would be understandable. After all, the team is coming off their second consecutive 100-loss season and fourth consecutive losing season.
That said, looking ahead to the 2023 season, for fans of the Pittsburgh Pirates it will be another season of looking at prospects and which ones could be in position to impact the big club. Fans will also be looking for prospects who could break out in 2023.
That is what brings us to this article. Today, we will take a look at two prospects who could break out for the Pittsburgh Pirates this season. Both of these payers could see their stock in the Pirate farm system rise substantially in 2023.
Pitcher Kyle Nicolas
Right-handed pitcher Kyle Nicolas is one of the three players that the Pittsburgh Pirates acquired from the Miami Marlins last offseason in exchange for catcher Jacob Stallings. There is some question if Nicolas will end up as a starting pitcher or a relief pitcher long-term, but 2023 will present him with the opportunity to answer this question.
In his first season in the Pirate organization Nicolas pitched for the Double-A Altoona Curve. Nicolas spent the entire 2022 season at Altoona, pitching 90.2 innings in 24 appearances, 22 of which were starts.
Nicolas posted a 3.97 ERA, 4.30 FIP, and allowed home runs at just a 0.89 HR/9 clip. While Nicolas had some issues with control walking batters at a 12.1% clip and hitting batters, he also generated a strong 25.9% strikeout rate.
Last season, Nicolas allowed 8 earned runs in his third start of the season. After this, he went on to pitch very well. Across his final 21 appearances, 19 starts, of the season Nicolas posted a 3.56 ERA and a 3.88 FIP while allowing home runs at a 0.56 HR/9 rate. During this strong stretch Nicolas limited opposing batters to a .203 batting average, while walking batters at a 12.4% rate and striking out 26.0% of batters faced.
The 23-year-old righty throws a power fastball with a plus slider. He also throws a curveball that has the potential to develop into a plus pitch. Nicolas also throws a changeup that he is continuing to work on and develop.
When the 2023 season begins Nicolas should once again be in the rotation for Double-A Altoona. However, if he ptiches well as prospects such as Quinn Priester, Luis Ortiz, and Mike Burrows graduate from Triple-A and join the Pittsburgh Pirates, Nicolas should be able to make his way into the rotation for Indianapolis. This could put Nicolas in line for his MLB debut at some point in 2023. Even if he does not reach the majors, Nicolas is still in position to put together a 2023 season that sees him break out as one of the organization's best pitching prospects.
Outfielder Rodolfo Nolasco
One thing the Pittsburgh Pirates lack in their farm system is hitters with plus power potential. One hitter in their farm system who still has plenty of untapped potential when it comes to plus power is outfielder Rodolfo Nolasco.
The 21-year-old Nolasco spent the entire 2022 season with Low-A Bradenton. This was Nolasco's first professional season playing for a full-season minor league affiliate. In his first taste of full-season ball, Nolasco hit for a .239/.330/.425 slash line to go with an isolated slugging (ISO) of .186. Nolasco posted a 116 wRC+, and while he struck out at a 34.0% rate he did have a strong 11.0% walk rate.
After a slow start to the season, Nolasco took off offensively in the final four months of the season. From June 1st through the end of the minor league season Nolasco hit for a .278/.384/.556 slash line with an ISO of .278 and a 162 wRC+. He collected extra base hits at an 11.3% rate, while hitting 9 home runs. Nolasco continued to struggle with the strikeout (35.2%) but his 13.8% walk rate was higher than his overall walk rate for the season.
Finding a way to improve his swing-and-miss issues will be vital for Nolasco in 2023. Even if this does not happen he can still put together a big season due to his raw power, but cutting back on the swing-and-miss needs to happen in order for Nolasco to reach his full potential.
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If Nolasco can carry over his success from the second half of 2022 into 2023 he will put up huge numbers for Bradenton and/or Greensboro. If this were to happen then Nolasco could shoot up Pirate prospect boards next season.