Pirates Minor League Report: Top Performers at Each Level

The Pittsburgh Pirates 2024 minor league season is in the books.

Triple-A Indianapolis was the last affiliate still playing but wrapped up the season with a 9-4 win over the St. Paul Saints on Sunday.

Indianapolis fell just shy of the playoffs and finished with a record of 77-10. Double-A Altoona finished well under .500 at 62-76. High-A Greensboro was the lone farm club to make the playoffs. They concluded the regular season at 75-55 before getting bounced in the first round. Low-A Bradenton went a lowly 54-77.

Naturally, there were some standout performers at each level. Here is the top hitter and pitcher at each level in the Pirates’ system.

Indianapolis Indians

• Top hitter: C Henry Davis: .307/.401/.555, 67 for 218, 15 doubles, 13 home runs, 43 RBIs, eight steals, 57 games

Davis bounced between Triple-A and the Pirates this season. Though he has yet to produce with the Pirates, he certainly has the minor leagues figured out. There isn’t anything else for Davis to show with Indianapolis. Since he’s currently on the injured list with six games to go, next year will be a crucial season for the 2021 top pick.

• Top pitcher: RHP Bubba Chandler: 4-0, 1.83 ERA, 39.1 innings, eight earned runs, 26 hits, 15 walks, 54 strikeouts, seven appearances/seven starts

Sure, Chandler only made seven starts with Indianapolis, and there are pitchers with a much lengthier showing than him. But nobody was as dominant as Chandler after he was bumped up from Altoona. Thanks to his performance this season, Chandler has established himself as the undisputed Pirates’ top prospect.

Altoona Curve

• Top hitter: 1B/DH Seth Beer: .281/.366/.397, 56 for 199, seven doubles, two triples, four home runs, 21 RBIs, one steal, 55 games

There weren’t many standouts offensively at Altoona this year, but the 28-year-old Beer had a solid half-season there before he was promoted to Indianapolis. The Pirates signed Beer has a minor league free agent in the winter.

• Top pitcher: RHP Thomas Harrington: 2-2, 2.24 ERA, 68.1 innings, 17 earned runs, 10 walks, 74 strikeouts, 13 appearances/12 starts

Harrington started the year on the injured list but returned in May and dominated the Double-A competition. The right-hander was promoted to Indianapolis and continued to shine across eight starts with the Pirates’ top minor league affiliate.

Greensboro Grasshoppers

• Top hitter: 1B/DH Nick Cimillo: .293/.419/.619, 53 for 181, eight doubles, 17 home runs, 48 RBIs, two steals 52 games

Cimillo showcased serious power throughout his season with the Grasshoppers. Among the regulars, he led the team in OBP, slugging percentage and OPS. Cimillo was promoted to Altoona in the middle of July.

• Top pitcher: LHP Dominic Perachi: 6-3, 2.08 ERA, 73.2 innings, 17 earned runs, 44 hits, 19 walks, 81 strikeouts, 16 appearances/10 starts

Perachi easily handled a notoriously hitter-friendly league in his 16 appearances with Greensboro this season, holding opponents to a .171 batting average. The left-hander was bumped to Altoona during the first week of August.

Bradenton Marauders

• Top hitter: OF/1B Esmerlyn Valdez: .226/.352/.464, 81 for 358, 17 doubles, one triple, 22 home runs, 61 RBIs, four steals, four steals, 107 games

Though Valdez’s batting average doesn’t stand out, his ability to get on base and his for power does. The 20-year-old was the Marauders’ leader in home runs, RBIs, runs, walks and OPS.

• Top pitcher: RHP Carlson Reed: 5-3, 2.43 ERA, 77.2 innings, 21 earned runs, 55 hits, 42 walks, 96 strikeouts, 17 appearances/17 starts

Reed, the Pirates’ fourth-round pick in 2023 out of WVU, shined in his first full season of pro ball. The right-hander cruised through Bradenton in his 17 starts. He pitched even better with Greensboro after a promotion on July 31.