Pirates Prospect Watch: Updates On Notable Minor League Pitchers

Pitching, pitching, and more pitching.

A Major League Baseball team can never have enough pitching, both in terms of quality and depth. During a rebuilding process, the bulk of the Pittsburgh Pirates‘ intriguing arms are working their way up the minor league system.

Throughout the years of this rebuild, the Bucs have been trying to accumulate young pitching in hopes that they will be able to contribute to the big league club and eventually bring a winner back to Pittsburgh.

Some of these pitchers, who either entered the season as prospects or still hold that title, have emerged at the major league level. Guys like Roansy Contreras, Colin Holderman and Yerry De Los Santos have all flashed potential at various points.

Still, there are a number of guys in the farm system who have yet to emerge in the big leagues. Here’s a rundown of some of the notables.

RHP Quinn Priester 

• Season Stats: 1-3, 3.05 ERA, 56 innings, 49 hits, 16 walks, 56 strikeouts, 12 games/12 starts

Ever since returning form an oblique injury, Priester has been on a roll for Double-A Altoona. The 2019 first-round draft pick has emerged as the Pirates’ top pitching prospect, and could see a promotion to Triple-A Indianapolis by season’s end.

Could he get a shot in the majors this season like Contreras did last year? It could be possible.

RHP Mike Burrows

• Season Stats: 5-5, 3.53 ERA, 91.2 innings, 78 hits, 29 walks, 109 strikeouts, 22 games/20 starts

Burrows was stellar for Altoona this season, posting a 2.94 ERA over 12 starts. That led to a midseason promotion to Triple-A, where the right-hander is finding his footing.

The 22-year-old has a 2.51 ERA across three appearances in the month of August with the Indians. In total, Burrows owns a 4.31 ERA with Indianapolis in just shy of 40 innings.

LHP Anthony Solometo

• Season Stats: 4-0, 3.15 ERA, 34.1 innings. 27 hits, 11 walks, 35 strikeouts, 10 games/five starts

Solometo owns a perfect record through 10 appearances. He has split time between starting and piggy-backing for the Low-A Bradenton Marauders, and has enjoyed plenty of success.

RHP/INF Bubba Chandler

• Season Stats: 0-1, 2.25 ERA, 32 innings, 17 hits, 22 walks, 49 strikeouts, 11 games/eight starts

Chandler breezed through six appearances with the FCL Pirates after not allowing a single run. In five appearances with Bradenton, Chandler has a 4.32 ERA. Walks have been high (6.2 BB/9), but so have strikeouts (13.8 K/9)

RHP Jared Jones

• Season Stats: 5-6, 5.01 ERA, 106 innings, 100 hits, 43 walks, 125 strikeouts, 22 games/22 starts

Jones has been plagued by the home run ball at times for High-A Greensboro in the hitter-friendly South Atlantic League (18 allowed). Still, there are plenty of things to like regarding Jones, including his impressive pitch arsenal and high strikeout totals.

RHP  Carmen Mlodzinski

• Season Stats: 3-7, 4.94 ERA, 82 innings, 84 hits, 33 walks, 88 strikeouts, 22 games/17 starts

Mlodzinski has been hit or miss throughout this season for Altoona, leaving open the possibility that he could end up in the bullpen long-term.

Others Of Note

• RHP Kyle Nicolas: 1-3, 3.87 ERA, 74.1 innings, 58 hits, 37 walks, 86 strikeouts, 19 games/18 starts (Double-A)
• RHP Tyler Samaniego: 3-4, 2.53 ERA, 42.2 innings, 16 hits, 19 walks, 45 strikeouts, 34 games (Double-A)
• RHP Tahnaj Thomas: 4-4, 3.07 ERA, 44 innings, 42 hits, 17 walks, 46 strikeouts, 32 games/one start (Double-A)
• RHP Luis Ortiz: 5-8, 4.69 ERA, 109.1 innings, 93 hits, 34 walks, 116 strikeouts, 23 games/22 starts (Double-A)
• RHP Po-Yu Chen: 3-7, 4.68 ERA, 90.1 innings. 79 hits, 34 walks, 95 strikeouts, 20 games/20 starts (Single-A)