LIVE: Orioles-Pirates Spring Breakout
Jake Rill
@JakeDRillThe rematch between Jackson Holliday and Paul Skenes is the main draw for the Spring Breakout game featuring Orioles and Pirates prospects on Thursday. And for good reason.
Holliday is MLB Pipeline¡¯s No. 1 overall prospect, while Skenes is ranked No. 3, making him the top pitching prospect in baseball. They¡¯re also the two most recent No. 1 overall Draft picks -- Holliday in 2022, then Skenes in ¡®23.
But there are plenty more reasons to be excited for this particular Spring Breakout exhibition.
Baltimore¡¯s farm system has been the best in baseball since mid-2021, placing first in each of MLB Pipeline¡¯s six semi-annual rankings during that time. Pittsburgh¡¯s Minor League ranks are also loaded with talent, as the Bucs have had a top-nine farm system since the start of ¡®23.
The future is bright for both the O¡¯s and Pirates, and that will be shown tonight at 7:05 p.m. ET as Spring Breakout arrives at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Fla.
¡°I think it¡¯s a nice thing for fans to watch prospects on TV -- Orioles fans or Pirates fans, fans in general -- to see players that are going to be playing in the big leagues soon,¡± Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde said. ¡°It¡¯s a nice little showcase for them.¡±
Here¡¯s everything to know about that Spring Breakout game and this exciting new event.
What is Spring Breakout?
MLB Spring Breakout is a four-day event showcasing baseball¡¯s future: the current stars of Minor League Baseball. The inaugural edition will be held from Thursday through Sunday at Grapefruit and Cactus League stadiums during Spring Training. A series of 16 exhibition games will be played between teams comprised of each MLB organization¡¯s top prospects, creating a new touchpoint on the baseball calendar that celebrates our sport¡¯s budding talent.
What time is the Orioles-Pirates game?
The Spring Breakout game will be Game 2 of a doubleheader, with Game 1 being a standard Spring Training game that starts at 3:05 pm ET. The estimated start time for the Spring Breakout game is 7:05 pm ET.
Which position player prospects are expected to play?
PIRATES
Pittsburgh will have 14 position players from its Top 30 Prospects list participating, a group headlined by second baseman Termarr Johnson (No. 2). The No. 44 overall prospect in baseball, Johnson was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft. The 19-year-old came into the spring as the youngest player in the Bucs¡¯ big league camp.
Shortstops Mitch Jebb (No. 8) and Tsung-Che Cheng (No. 9) and third baseman Jack Brannigan (No. 10) are among the other top prospects on the Spring Breakout roster, and all three will start tonight, with Cheng at short and Jebb at DH.
ORIOLES
Baltimore¡¯s top eight prospects are all position players, and six of them were in the starting lineup for Spring Breakout: Holliday (No. 1), catcher/first baseman Samuel Basallo (No. 2), third baseman Coby Mayo (No. 4), second baseman Connor Norby (No. 7) and outfielders Enrique Bradfield Jr. (No. 6) and Dylan Beavers (No. 8). The Orioles' full roster can be found here.
Basallo played in his first three games of the spring this week, going 1-for-4 as a late-game DH replacement. The 19-year-old won¡¯t catch in games until late April, but he got the start at DH for the Orioles in tonight's Spring Breakout game.
Which pitching prospects are expected to play?
Skenes, Solometo and Chandler are all among the Bucs¡¯ top five prospects. They¡¯ll be joined on the pitching staff by right-hander Braxton Ashcraft (No. 7).
ORIOLES
Left-hander Cade Povich (Baltimore¡¯s No. 10 prospect) will get the start. The 23-year-old reached Triple-A Norfolk for the first time last season and is in big league camp for the second straight year. He racked up 171 strikeouts in 126 2/3 innings in the Minors in 2023.
Right-hander Trace Bright (No. 17) is also scheduled to pitch at Spring Breakout. The 23-year-old had a 3.97 ERA in 26 games (21 starts) between Double-A Bowie and High-A Aberdeen last year.
Why are certain top prospects not listed on the rosters?
If you don¡¯t see a top prospect on your favorite team¡¯s roster, it is likely because they fall into one of two categories. They are either still in big league camp and battling for a roster spot, or the player is injured or has an injury concern.