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Pirates Top 30 Prospects No. 28: Will Matt Ager Turn Into a Steal?

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Future Pirates pick and UC Santa Barbara's Matt Ager (34) pitches during an NCAA Baseball game on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024, in Buies Creek, N.C. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)

This is one in a series of stories breaking down PBN’s Top 30 Pittsburgh Pirates prospects.



The first player on this list who has yet to make a professional appearance, the Pirates selected right-handed pitcher Matt Ager out of UC Santa Barbara in the sixth round of the 2024 draft.

General manager Ben Cherington bought low on Ager, who received buzz as a potential first round draft pick ahead of the 2024 collegiate season. An injury marred junior season saw the 6-foot-6, 225 pound right-hander flip between the starting rotation and the bullpen, however. He posted a 4.02 ERA (respectable enough, but nearly a full run off his 2023 performance) with 59 strikeouts in 62.2 innings, then got roughed up in the wooden bat Cape Cod League during summer ball, seeing his ERA balloon to 8.59 in 7.1 innings.

Steal of the Draft?

It’s an admittedly small sample size, but that was enough for Ager to fall into the Pirates’ lap in the sixth round, signing for a hair under slot value with a $357,400 contract. Cherington took a gamble on Ager, but when one considers the rate at which prospects selected on Day 2 or later pan out in the big leagues (hint: it’s not good!), it’s hard to pass on a potential first round talent at a bargain price.

In terms of pitch mix, Ager’s fastball sits in the low 90s but can top out around 96 miles per hour. His slider is his highest-graded offering, clocking in at 55 on the 20-80 scouting scale. He also works in a slow curve and a changeup from time to time, but primarily relies on the fastball-slider combo… part of why he projects as a reliever should he make the big leagues.

Beyond the pitches he throws, Ager also displays solid command and masks his delivery well, keeping opposing batters guessing as to what he’ll throw next.

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