The Pirates’ Top 30 Prospects list certainly looks different now than it did preseason. Some of it was expected, like Paul Skenes and Jared Jones graduating from their Top 100 status to become part of the core of this rotation. Some of it was a product of the Trade Deadline, with the Bucs dealing away a few players while swapping out some of their pitching depth for bats at the Major and Minor League levels.
“A general goal over time is to try to move some pitching talent into position-player talent,” general manager Ben Cherington said after the Trade Deadline. “That didn’t have to come through one deal specifically, but we were able to start doing some of that this Deadline.”
What is left is a team that has a new look at the top of its prospect rankings, with Draft picks and new faces sprinkled throughout. Here’s how the Pirates’ Top 30 Prospects list breaks down:
Here’s a look at the Pirates’ top prospects:
- Bubba Chandler, RHP (No. 41 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100)
- Konnor Griffin, SS (No. 55)
- Termarr Johnson, 2B/SS (No. 84)
- Braxton Ashcraft, RHP (No. 96)
- Thomas Harrington, RHP
Biggest jump/fall
Here are the players whose ranks changed the most from the preseason list:
Jump: Tony Blanco Jr., 1B/OF (Preseason: Not ranked | Midseason: 20)
The Pirates haven’t shied away from big signing bonuses for international free agents the last few years, and that includes Blanco, who agreed to a $900,000 bonus in January 2022. Just 19, Blanco clocks in at 6-foot-7 and 243 lbs, and that big frame translates to good power and arm tools (both graded at 55). His first turn in the Florida Complex League has been encouraging thus far, hitting .305 with an .890 OPS and four home runs in 30 games.
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Fall: Jase Bowen, OF (Preseason: 21 | Midseason: Not ranked)
Bowen had a big showing with High-A Greensboro in 2023, hitting 23 home runs with 24 stolen bases en route to earning a late-season promotion to Double-A Altoona. He had a rougher time at the higher level, and that’s continued this year, as he’s hit .239 with five home runs, a .629 OPS and 70% steal success rate (14 of 20). He’s also been used almost exclusively as an outfielder (sans four games at first base), and his ability to play the infield was previously a selling point for his prospect status.
New to the list
Here are the players added to the Top 30 from outside the organization:
No. 2, Konnor Griffin, SS (No. 9 pick in 2024 Draft)
No. 6, Nick Yorke, 2B (acquired from Red Sox)
No. 10, Wyatt Sanford, SS (No. 47 pick in 2024 Draft)
No. 11, Levi Sterling, RHP (No. 37 pick in 2024 Draft)
No. 17, Josh Hartle, LHP (No. 83 pick in 2024 Draft)
No. 23, Matt Ager, RHP (No. 174 pick in 2024 Draft)
No. 24, Billy Cook, OF/2B (acquired from Orioles)
Best tools
Players are graded on a 20-80 scouting scale for future tools – 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average and 70-80 is well above average. Players in parentheses have the same grade.
Hit: 55 -- Mitch Jebb (Termarr Johnson, Keiner Delgado)
Power: 60 -- Konnor Griffin
Run: 70 -- Lonnie White
Arm: 70 -- Konnor Griffin (Jack Brannigan)
Defense: 60 -- Wyatt Sanford (Konnor Griffin, Tsung-Che Cheng, Lonnie White)
Fastball: 60 -- Bubba Chandler (Braxton Ashcraft, Mike Burrows)
Curveball: 60 -- Levi Sterling
Slider: 60 -- Hunter Barco
Changeup: 60 -- Carlson Reed
Control: 55 -- Thomas Harrington (Braxton Ashcraft, Anthony Solometo, Michael Kennedy, Josh Hartle)