Format = Place Participant | Age on 4/1/2024 | Highest Stage Performed | Estimated Time of Arrival
1. RHP Bubba Chandler | 22 | AAA | 2025
Right here’s what I wrote about Chandler on final yr’s checklist:
“His 1.50 WHIP throughout 24 Excessive-A begins isn’t significantly spectacular, however his recreation log tells a special story. Over his closing 9 begins, he posted a 0.82 WHIP and 1.66 ERA, culminating in 5 shutout innings throughout his Double-A debut. He struck out eight batters and allowed one hit and 0 walks that evening. I believe his 2024 will embody a whole lot of nights prefer it.”
Didn’t take a crystal ball to see this one coming, to be honest, nevertheless it was enjoyable to see Chandler come into his personal a pair years after ditching hitting to focus full time on his craft. The 6’2” 200 lb energy righty cruised via 119.2 innings throughout two ranges with 148 strikeouts together with a 3.08 ERA and 1.02 WHIP. He’ll throw any of his 4 pitches (fastball, curveball, slider, changeup) at any time and command every of them fairly nicely. If Pittsburgh can piece collectively a plus defensive crew over the subsequent few seasons, they need to be contenders on the power of a formidable pitching workers.
2. SS Konnor Griffin | 18 | NA | 2029
Straight from the Division of This Is What They Look Like, Griffin checks in 6’4” 215 lbs with straightforward velocity and energy. He was the Gatorade Nationwide Excessive College Participant of the Yr after profitable his third straight title for Jackson Prep in Mississippi. It’s no exaggeration to say he would possibly steal 100 bases in a minor league season contemplating he stole 87 in 88 makes an attempt in his closing highschool season. Considerably shockingly for a participant his dimension and age, he’s a superb defensive shortstop already and has the arm and velocity to turn out to be an elite defender if his arms maintain coming alongside.
3. 2B Termarr Johnson | 20 | A+ | 2025
The 4th total choose in 2022, Johnson posted one other stable season in 2024, posting a 123 wRC+ in 110 Excessive-A video games. He completed the season with 14 Double-A video games and logged a 98 wRC+ there. The outcomes have all the time been constructive, however the way in which he will get there isn’t precisely typical. Listed at 5’7” 175 lbs, Johnson employs a crouch from the left facet and will get essentially the most out of his tiny strike zone through excessive endurance. He did handle 15 dwelling runs and 22 stolen bases in 124 video games throughout two ranges, however I’m hesitant right here as a result of I don’t all the time love the extreme-patience strategy.
4. RHP Braxton Ashcraft | 25 | AAA | 2025
A 2nd spherical choose in 2018, Ashcraft closed the season by kicking some critical ash in Triple-A, recording a 0.47 ERA and 0.98 WHIP throughout 19.1 innings. He was fairly good in 53.2 Double-A innings earlier than that as nicely, winding up with a 3.69 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in 53.2 innings on the power of a fastball that touches 98 and a slider he can constantly spot. He pairs these with a curveball and changeup. At 6’5” 195 lbs, Ashcraft has endured a journey filled with stops and begins and retains some upside that’s obscured a bit by his age.
5. RHP Thomas Harrington | 23 | AAA | 2025
I believe Harrington might’ve helped this season, however Pittsburgh’s pitching workers stayed principally wholesome, and the crew didn’t keep in rivalry all year long. In 117.1 innings throughout three ranges, Harrington posted a 2.61 ERA and 0.963 WHIP with 115 strikeouts and solely 19 walks. He instructions for stable pitches in his fastball, slider, cutter and changeup, and he retains a sluggish curve in his again pocket to activate one other velocity band if want be. I believe generally we underrate guys like Harrington as a result of he’s not pumping 99 from a skyscraper, however guys with command and aptitude for spin have their very own type of upside hidden in a 6’2” 185 lb body, possibly extra now than they ever have.
6. 2B Nick Yorke | 22 | MLB | 2024
Yorke was having an incredible season when Pittsburgh acquired him within the Quinn Priester commerce then he turned it up one other stage like Spinal Faucet, slashing .355/.431/.507 in 40 video games with the crew’s Triple-A Indianapolis affiliate. He’s not precisely small at 6’0” 200 lbs, however I’m a bit nervous about his energy upside like I’m with nearly any right-handed hitter who has to battle with that dwelling area cavern in left-center area.
7. Johnny Severino | 20 | A | 2028
In 84 video games throughout two ranges, Severino hit 16 dwelling runs and stole 16 bases. I’m no math whizz, however that’ll work. He additionally slashed .271/.341/.528 with stable plate expertise. Severino signed for $1.23 million with Milwaukee and came to visit within the Carlos Santana commerce and is trying like a reasonably large win for Pittsburgh for the time being.
8. 3B Jack Brannigan | 24 | A+ | 2026
The spirit is keen to roster Jack Brannigan, however the flesh is spongy, bruised from years of Pittsburgh disappointments. Just like the well-known Futurama captain with the identical surname, Brannigan strikes out so much, however when he does make contact, the ball stays hit. He slugged .490 with 18 dwelling runs and 12 steals in 77 Excessive-A video games. A 3rd-round choose in 2022, Brannigan can choose and hearth the tablet from the third and may keep there all the way in which up the chain. May even kick over to shortstop in a pinch.
9. LHP Hunter Barco | 23 | AA | 2025
A cool lefty at 6’4” 210 lbs, Barco misplaced a whole lot of reps in faculty attributable to covid and a Tommy John surgical procedure however nonetheless wound up a second spherical choose (forty fourth total) in 2022. Because of this, his supply remains to be a piece in progress, however when he’s in rhythm and repeating, Barco may be dominant because of a tough strategy angle and a slider-change combo that pairs nicely together with his fastball. He posted a 1.06 WHIP in 62 Excessive-A innings this yr and could possibly be a part of the MLB image final in 2025.
10. SS Mitch Jebb | 22 | A+ | 2026
Tailored for the period, Jebb brings double-plus velocity at 6’1” 185 lbs from the left facet. He posted a .341 OBP and 104 wRC+ together with 43 steals in 113 Excessive-A video games, so he’ll need to hit a bit extra to earn his spot on the sphere, however I believe he can try this as long as he retains creating as a defender who bounces round between brief, second, and possibly outfield as an enormous leaguer.
Thanks for studying!
