Pirates Minor League Updates: Johnson Bumped Up, Yorke Stays Hot

This is one in a weekly update on the Pittsburgh Pirates’ top 10 prospects.

Termarr Johnson is one step closer to the big leagues. The Pittsburgh Pirates promoted their 2022 first-round draft pick to Double-A Altoona after playing in 110 games in his first season with High-A Greensboro.

One of the newest Pirates’ prospects, Nick Yorke, continued to stay hot with Triple-A Indianapolis as he pushes for a big-league promotion.

Full updates on the top 10:

1. RHP Bubba Chandler (Triple-A Indianapolis)

• Weekly stats: 0-0, 5.40 ERA, five innings, three runs, five hits, one walk, six strikeouts, one appearance/one start
• 2024 stats (AAA) : 1-0, 1.50 ERA, 18 innings, three runs, 12 hits, four walks, 23 strikeouts, three appearances/three starts

After dominating his first two Triple-A starts, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ top prospect struggled a bit in his most recent outing. He’s still tied for the most strikeouts in the International League since making his Indianapolis debut.

2. INF Termarr Johnson (High-A Greensboro)

• Weekly stats: .286/.360/.476, 6 for 21, one double, one home run, two RBIs, five steals, six games
• 2024 stats: .238/.372/.385, 94 for 395, 17 doubles, one triple, 13 home runs, 46 RBIs, 20 steals, 110 games

Johnson played well in his final week with Greensboro. The 20-year-old will look to take the next step along with improved consistency as he heads to Altoona.

3. LHP Anthony Solometo (Double-A Altoona)

• Weekly stats: 0-1, 4.32 ERA, 8.1 innings, five runs (four earned), seven hits, five walks, seven strikeouts, two appearances/two starts
• 2024 stats (AA): 0-6, 6.17 ERA, 46.2 innings, 33 runs (32 earned), 42 hits, 32 walks, 36 strikeouts, 17 appearances/14 starts

Solometo had a rare two-start week and pitched reasonably well. Overall, it continues to be a challenging season for the left-hander.

4. RHP Braxton Ashcraft (Triple-A Indianapolis)

• Weekly stats: DID NOT PITCH — PLACED ON 7-DAY INJURED LIST ON JULY 12
• 2024 stats (AA, AAA): 3-2, 2.88 ERA, 72 innings, 25 runs (23 earned), 65 hits, 12 walks, 76 strikeouts, 15 appearances/13 starts

Ashcraft is still on the injured list with recurring symptoms of lateral forearm tightness.

5. INF/OF Nick Yorke (Triple-A Indianapolis)

• Weekly stats: .429/.500/.571, 9 for 21, three doubles, five RBIs, two steals, five games
• 2024 stats (Indianapolis): .370/.422/.481, 30 for 81, nine doubles, 15 RBIs, three steals, 22 games

Yorke continues to swing a hot bat ever since the Pirates acquired him from the Red Sox for Quinn Priester. Since the start of July, he leads the league with 29 hits. If he keeps this up, he might get a shot in the big leagues before the season ends.

6. RHP Thomas Harrington (Triple-A Indianapolis)

• Weekly stats: 1-0, 1.50 ERA, six innings, one run, two hits, no walks, six strikeouts, one appearance/one start
• 2024 stats (AAA): 2-1, 3.09 ERA, 23.1 innings, eight runs, 14 hits, three walks, 17 strikeouts, four appearances/four starts

It was more of the same for Harrington in his latest start with Indianapolis. Excellent control, low opponent batting average and good results.

7. INF Mitch Jebb (High-A Greensboro)

• Weekly stats: .348/.360/.391, 8 for 23, one double, three RBIs, four steals, six games
• 2024 stats: .258/.349/.349, 101 for 392, 10 doubles, four triples, six home runs, 41 RBIs, 37 steals, 103 games

Jebb’s season turnaround continued with another productive week with the bat. He ranks second in the South Atlantic League with a .343 batting average in August.

8. INF Tsung-Che Cheng (Double-A Altoona)

• Weekly stats: .150/.227/.300, 3 for 20, one home run, two RBIs, six games
• 2024 stats: .220/.322/.352, 81 for 369, 16 doubles, 10 home runs, 45 RBIs, 14 steals, 102 games

While Jebb has been able to find his groove this season, Cheng continues to struggle. Since July 6, he’s hitting just .174 in 37 games.

9. INF Jack Brannigan (High-A Greensboro)

• Weekly stats: DID NOT PLAY — PLACED ON 7-DAY INJURED LIST ON JULY 27
• 2024 stats: .223/.340/.445, 59 for 265, 12 doubles, one triple, 15 home runs, 46 RBIs, 12 steals, 71 games

Brannigan remains sidelined with a left shoulder injury.

10. RHP Mike Burrows (Triple-A Indianapolis)

• Weekly stats: 0-0, 2.25 ERA, four innings, one run, five hits, one walk, four strikeouts, one appearance/one start
• 2024 stats (AAA): 0-1, 4.00 ERA, 18 innings, eight runs, 21 hits, four walks, 20 strikeouts, five appearances/four starts

The Pirates consider to be on the cautious side with Burrows coming off of his Tommy John, but he delivered a good start in his fifth appearance since rejoining Triple-A Indianapolis.

*NOTE: For the sake of consistency, the Pirates’ top 10 prospects for this update are not MLB Pipeline’s most recent rankings.