Pittsburgh Pirates: Prospects Who Could Force Themselves Into Long Term Plans

Owen Kellington

This prospect is likely the highest profile of any of the names we'll look at today. Owen Kellington is the only prospect to appear on either FanGraphs or MLB Pipeline's list. Even then, Pipeline does not include him on the Pirates' top 30, and FanGraphs only puts him as their 45th-best prospect. The Pirates drafted the right-hander out of U-32 High School in Vermont after posting some eye-popping numbers. Kellington missed a large portion of 2022 due to injuries, but his first full season hasn't been too bad.

In 76 innings, all with Bradenton, Kellington has a 3.67 ERA, 4.77 FIP, and 1.39 WHIP. He has both a quality 26.7% strikeout rate as well as a decent 0.95 HR/9. But walks have come back to bite him on more than one occasion. Kellington currently has a 14.4% walk rate, which is the 6th highest rate of any A-Ball arm with at least 70 innings pitched this season. He has been slightly better recently at 12.4% over his last 34.2 innings, though control will be something he needs to work on.

Kellington is a soft-tossing arm. On good days, he averages 90 MPH on his four-seamer. But because of the carry it has through the zone, it plays up. Kellington's best pitches are his curveball and change-up, both of which have the potential to be plus offerings. Again, however, it's going to come down to his command and if he can improve it.

Kellington has three average or better offerings in his arsenal. When we talk about the amount of pitching talent in the Pirates' system, Kellington's name is far from the first name that comes to mind. Kellington could possibly be a future starting pitching option. He's still at Bradenton and is just 20 years old. There's definitely a chance in a few years, he is one of the more noteworthy pitching prospects the Pirates have.