ST. LOUIS -- The Pirates have spent the past two seasons focused on one thing: building organizational depth and strength. Their efforts got some recognition this week.

On Wednesday night, MLB Pipeline released its midseason update of MLB¡¯s Top 100 prospects and each club¡¯s Top 30 prospects. For the Pirates, it¡¯s chock full of new July acquisitions.

Two Pirates prospects were added to the Top 100 prospects -- one acquired this season, and one who vaulted into it with his recent performance. After Ke¡¯Bryan Hayes graduated from the list, 2021 No. 1 overall Draft pick Henry Davis became the Pirates¡¯ No. 1 overall prospect, and the catching prospect landed at No. 23 -- his jersey number in the Minors -- on the Top 100.

Right-hander Quinn Priester (No. 53), shortstop Oneil Cruz (No. 57) and second baseman Nick Gonzales (No. 68) were shuffled a bit, but they all held their spots in the latest version of the list. Rounding out the Pirates¡¯ representatives was new addition shortstop Liover Peguero at No. 93. The shortstop hit a career best 14 doubles and 11 homers in 69 games entering Friday¡¯s action with High-A Greensboro, and he made an impression on Pirates manager Derek Shelton in Spring Training with his effort and drive.

¡°This kid, he brings energy every day in a great way,¡± Shelton said. ¡°Excited as he continues to develop.¡±

The Pirates¡¯ are one of six organizations to have five or more players represented in the Top 100 prospects.

Looking at Pittsburgh¡¯s revamped Top 30 prospects, a lot of the depth has been built by the current regime led by general manager Ben Cherington. Nineteen of the players among MLB Pipeline¡¯s Top 30 Pirates prospects have been acquired by the new management team, and other holdovers have broken out in the development environment they¡¯ve helped to lay out.

Among the new entries are four Draft picks: Davis (No. 1), left-hander Anthony Solometo (No. 7), right-hander/shortstop Bubba Chandler (No. 8) and outfielder Lonnie White Jr. (No. 11). One of the fastest in-house risers is outfielder Matt Frazier, who jumped from unranked to No. 23 after slashing .314/.401/.578 with 14 doubles, three triples and 20 homers in 75 games with Greensboro.

¡°I think it speaks to is Ben lined out a really clear plan when he took the job,¡± said Shelton of the enhanced organizational strength. ¡°We¡¯re starting to see how that plan is playing out.¡±

Kuhl returns from COVID IL
Chad Kuhl was reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list ahead of Friday¡¯s series opener in St. Louis, and for the time being, he¡¯ll be in the bullpen as he works back to full strength.

¡°I think we¡¯ll kind of play it by ear,¡± Shelton said. ¡°I don¡¯t think we¡¯ve decided what we¡¯re going to use him as right now. He will pitch out of the bullpen. We could see him in multi-faceted roles.¡±

¡°We haven¡¯t really had those conversations,¡± said Kuhl of the specifics of the bullpen progression plan. ¡°I¡¯m expecting to pitch and to be able to build back up, and I¡¯ve proven that I can start and be pretty good as a starter.¡±

Kuhl isn¡¯t coming back without building up somewhat already. During the time away from the field, he stayed fresh by any means, whether throwing into a net, at a local park ¡°with a bag of baseballs¡± or to one of the Pirates¡¯ former Minor Leaguers, John Kuchno, who offered his services to play catch with Kuhl. The Bucs¡¯ right-hander has also thrown a bullpen and two live batting practice sessions.

¡°I threw pretty much every day that I was in quarantine,¡± Kuhl said. ¡°The biggest part was just getting back off the mound, getting that feel back, but I feel good. I feel fresh. Really not much lag. ¡­ I was a little bit sore after the first time off the mound, but all good.¡±

The positive test surprised Kuhl, though he said he felt some nausea and headaches two days before he was placed on the COVID-19 related IL on Aug. 2. Those issues went away on Sunday as the team prepared to head to Milwaukee, Kuhl said, but a nose swab came back positive and further testing confirmed that to be the case.

¡°I was fortunate enough that I had minimal symptoms, and that was it,¡± Kuhl said. ¡°I¡¯m good to go.¡±