Pirates Prospect Watch: Who Could be Promoted to Triple-A?

As it stands, the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians are the only minor league affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates still in action.

In his weekly radio show over the weekend, general manager Ben Cherington said that it is possible a handful of prospects could be added to the Indians’ roster to keep getting game reps. Indianapolis’ season ends Sept. 28.

At Double-A Altoona, a handful of Pirates’ prospects are logical candidates to get promoted after the Curve’s season ended Sunday.

RHP Quinn Priester

Priester, the Pirates first-round selection in 2019, had quite a season with Altoona. The recently-turned 22-year-old went 4-4 with a 2.87 ERA and 75 strikeouts in 75.1 innings across 15 starts.

The right-hander doesn’t have much else to prove at the Double-A level and could get his feet wet with Indianapolis.

C/OF Endy Rodriguez

Rodriguez was added to MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 prospects list on Monday and for good reason. The 22-year-old has had an incredible season.

Rodriguez has only played 31 games at Double-A, but to say things have gone well for him there would be an understatement. He has hit .356 with a 1.120 OPS, 14 doubles, eight home runs and 32 RBIs.

2B Nick Gonzales

Like Priester, Gonzales was selected by the Pirates in the first round when the Bucs took him with the seventh pick in 2020.

Outside of working his way back from plantar fasciitis, Gonzales has spent the entire season in Double-A. In 71 games with Altoona, Gonzales, 23, posted a .383 on-base percentage and a 127 wRC+.

OF Matt Gorski

Gorski is a bit older than the other names on this list as he turns 25 in December — another reason to consider bumping him up to Triple-A.

Gorski possesses big-time power as he combined to slug 23 home runs in 75 games between High-A Greensboro and Altoona.

RHP Tahnaj Thomas

Thomas’ transition to the bullpen this season has been a successful one. The big right-hander went 5-4 with a 3.02 ERA and punched out 52 in 50.2 innings for Altoona.

The 23-year-old possesses a big fastball that plays well out of the pen.

As for the actual game for Indianapolis, here are some notable performances.

Indianapolis Indians (71-70)

LF Brendt Citta

• Game: 2 for 3 with a home run, a double, two RBIs, two runs and two walks
• Season: .265/.356/.470, nine doubles, five home runs, 22 RBIs, 34 games

CF Travis Swaggerty

• Game: 3 for 4 with two RBIs and a steal
• Season: .263/.359/.419, 15 doubles, eight triples, nine home runs, 55 RBIs, 17 steals, 100 games

The pair of outfielders led the way to their 9-1 win over the St. Paul Saints.

Ji-hwan Bae had a pair of hits and stole a base and Tucupita Marcano hit his third homer of the season.

Cody Bolton pitched three scoreless innings in the start and struck out five.

Pirates closer David Bednar, on a rehab assignment,. tossed a scoreless inning with two strikeouts.