These Pittsburgh Pirates prospects are red hot right now

Jaden Woods

The Pirates definitely need some relievers, so let’s turn our attention to a relief prospect in the Pirates’ system. Lefty Jaden Woods might be one of the more promising relievers the Pirates have stashed in their system. The southpaw was drafted in the seventh round of last year’s draft. So far, he’s dominated batters at High-A Greensboro.

Woods has pitched 20.1 innings, all out of the pen, working to the tune of a 2.66 ERA, 3.59 FIP, and 1.38 WHIP. There’s nothing Woods hasn’t done well in particular. His 0.89 HR/9 is about league average, but he has an above-average 10.1% walk rate and an outstanding 31.5% K%. Opponents have a .347 batting average on balls in play against Woods, so he could potentially improve.

But Woods didn’t get off to a great start to 2024. He’s allowed six earned runs all year, but four came in his first six innings of the season. Since then, Woods has tossed 14.1 more frames, allowing just two ER, resulting in a 1.26 ERA. In that time, he has a K% approaching 40% at 38.6%, as well as a strong 7% walk rate and 0.63 HR/9. Woods has been unscored upon in 10 of his last 12 games.

Woods is only 22, and he could reach Double-A before the end of the year. The lefty is definitely someone to keep an eye on. He could find himself in the Pirates’ bullpen within a year. He’s a lefty reliever with decent stuff who can hit the zone. We’ll see how he does at the next level, but left-handed relievers are always in demand, and Woods could be one in the Pirates’ pen.