Altoona Curve Place Quinn Priester on Injured List

The Altoona Curve have place right-handed pitcher Quinn Priester on the 7-day injured list with an oblique injury, according to Mike Persak of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. MLB Pipeline currently ranks Priester, the Pirates 2019 first-round selection, as the club’s top pitching prospect.

It’s a tough blow for Priester who will head to the injured list before his season even begins. Last year with High-A Greensboro, Priester was 7-4 with a 3.04 ERA in 20 starts spanning just shy of 100 innings. For his minor league career, the right-hander has a 3.08 ERA and 139 strikeouts in 134.1 innings pitched.

If there’s any good news for the Pirates here, it’s that the injury isn’t to the 21-year-old’s arm. No timetable has yet been given for when Priester will return.

The Curve’s season opener is Friday night against Harrisburg. Carmen Mlodzinski will get the ball for Altoona to begin their season.