Ranking the 10 most valuable young players in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization

8. Mitch Jebb

The Pirates organization lacks overall offensive pieces from top to bottom. Although there are a few young pieces who rank above Mitch Jebb, he is still considered a very valuable piece to the future in Pittsburgh. The draft pick selected after Paul Skenes in 2023 has really emerged this season, and is displaying tools that could get him into the big leagues.

Jebb is batting .323 with an .808 OPS in Double-A. His strikeout rate is slightly higher than his walk rate, at 13.8% to 13.2%. That plate discipline is very impressive for the young utilityman, and he has also stolen 16 bases to go with his prowess with the bat. He is not just a slap hitter either, picking up five doubles and two triples. Not really known for his power, he will run into a couple home runs from time to time, too, picking up six in 2024.

Jebb is projected to be a big piece to the Pirates' future, but the position is unknown yet. He plays center field and the middle infield, something that is somewhat jammed right now. There are plenty of possibilities, but if he keeps hitting the way that he has, he will find a spot somewhere.

7. Thomas Harrington

Thomas Harrington is another very valuable pitcher in Triple-A right now. Harrington has gotten to make his major league debut this season and struggled. He is also not doing too hot in Indianapolis, but hope is not lost for the very talented right-hander.

Harrington has some of the best command in the organization, which has helped him move up so fast through just two professional seasons. He's played in two different levels every year of his career. These struggles from Harrington have been a bit uncharacteristic, with a high walk rate of 7.8% and an opposing batting average of .277. Those numbers looked even worse during his cameo in the majors.

Despite the slow start, he is still very valuable to the organization. He will get his chance in Pittsburgh again this season, but to get back up, his ERA of 5.59 needs to drop. Harrington saw time with the Pirates as a starter and reliever. It is uncertain what is role will occupy long-term with how strong this pitching staff is. His talent should get him an eventual spot, regardless of that role.

6. Nick Yorke

Nick Yorke is quietly one of more underrated prospects in baseball, and has gotten some remarkable recognition from Keith Law. Coming over from the Red Sox in exchange for Quinn Priester, the young middle infield prospect has great hit tools. He displayed them in his short stint with Indianapolis and Pittsburgh in 2024, but the Pirates decided to bring in Adam Frazier instead of letting Yorke play in the big leagues this season.

Yorke is off to a slow start to 2025, but he has been heating up. On the season now, Yorke is batting .254 with three home runs and seven stolen bases. His OPS is at .671 and his wRC+ sits at 82. Not outstanding by any means, but he is turning a corner in May, batting .304 with two homers in the month thus far.

He has a lot of offensive upside, and he displayed that last season in Triple-A. In just 40 games with Indianapolis, he batted .355 with an OPS of .938. He belted 17 doubles and two home runs, while driving in 26 runs. There is a lot to like here with Yorke, and it is unfortunate that he is not in Pittsburgh right now. His time should come soon, with Frazier and Isiah Kiner-Falefa on one-year deals.