Pirates

Pirates Prospect Watch: Handful of Top Guys Could Debut in 2023

Published

1 year ago

March 27, 2023

Pittsburgh Pirates, Pirates Prospects, Endy Rodriguez

It has been a rough couple years for the Pittsburgh Pirates at the major league level as the club has been in a full-scale rebuild since general manager Ben Cherington took over in 2019.

Up until this offseason, the Pirates’ transactions have largely been trading established veterans for young assets to help stock the farm system.

The Pirates are now at the stage of the rebuild where some of their prospects, acquired via trade and through the draft, could reach the big leagues for the first time this season.

Among the names who could make it to Pittsburgh for 2023 are a handful of their top prospects.

Looking at their top five, outside of Termarr Johnson who was selected out of high school in last year’s draft, the Pirates’ other four on MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 list could all make it to Pittsburgh this year.

Endy Rodriguez might be the first among the group. The 22-year-old had an outstanding 2022 season and worked his way up to Triple-A where he ended the year. It might not be too long before we see Rodriguez at PNC Park.

Fellow catcher Henry Davis is another one who has a chance at reaching the big leagues this year. The 2021 first-overall pick will begin the year at Double-A and if he stays healthy, could make his big league debut.

Two other former first-rounders are also knocking on the doorstep to the major leagues. Nick Gonzales spent all of last season with Double-A and had an impressive spring training. It’s only a matter of time before he can call himself a big leaguer.

Right-hander Quinn Priester, who like Rodriguez finished the season at Triple-A Indianapolis, still has work to do but is getting closer to Pittsburgh. Priester is rated as the Pirates’ top pitching prospect.

Among the other notable prospects who could make their major league debuts this coming season include — RHP Mike Burrows, 1B Malcom Nunez, OF Matt Gorski, INF Jared Triolo and RHP Carmen Mlodzinski.

Get ready Pittsburgh, the next wave of prospects is on the way.