10 Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects To Know Beyond The Top 30 in 2024
Baseball America’s Top 30 Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects entering 2024 are here exclusively for subscribers. The list includes updated scouting reports, BA grades and tool grade projections for every player.
Inevitably, there are players every year who barely miss the cut when we narrow down the list. These players are all worth monitoring for various reasons and it’s likely some will either reach the big leagues in 2024 or enjoy breakout seasons lower in the minors.
Here are next 10 players to know in the Pirates system beyond their Top 30.
31. Tony Blanco Jr., OF
Blanco is the son of the former big leaguer of the same name, and he’s also one of the sport’s premier exit velocity brokers. He hits the ball as hard as anyone in the game, including the major leagues. Now, he just needs to hit it more often. He struck out 37% of the time in the DSL, a rate which will need to improve sharply for him to reach the big leagues in any capacity.
32. Yordany De Los Santos, SS
De Los Santos comes from the same class as Tony Blanco Jr. and played well enough in the Florida Complex League before a promotion to Low-A Bradenton. He’s got plenty of tools–including top-end speed—but needs to regroup and alter his approach to get the most out of his game.
33. Jesus Castillo, SS
Castillo is a strong defender at shortstop with an excellent arm and one of the better senses of strike zone discipline in the organization. There’s little to no impact, however, and he’ll need to continue to slap and dash to get to the big leagues.
34. Carter Bins, C
Bins came over from the Mariners in the 2021 deal that sent Tyler Anderson to Seattle. Now, he’s the best defensive catcher in the system. He missed most of the season with a meniscus injury but made up for lost time in the Arizona Fall League. His ceiling is as a defense-first backup.
35. Axiel Plaz, C
After a strong 2022 season in the Dominican Summer League, Plaz struggled with both injuries and poor performance upon moving stateside. His admirers see a player with bat speed and strength who needed to improve his timing in the box. Those lower on him believe his body is maxed-out with a long swing and work to do behind the plate.
36. Po-Yu Chen, RHP
Chen has the best changeup in the system and performed well during spring training but struggled during the regular year at High-A Greensboro, where he allowed 21 home runs in 119.2 innings. Aside from the changeup, Chen will need to find another weapon in order to succeed at the upper levels of the minor leagues.
37. Shalin Polanco, OF
Polanco has big time power but will need to refine his approach to get to it more often. He chased and missed too much, but his exit velocities were above-average when compared to his peers. He also swung more often than is ideal.
38. Charles McAdoo, OF
McAdoo signed with the Pirates out of San Jose State as an undrafted free agent. He’s a physical player with a clean swing and plenty of strength who performed well at Low-A after signing. His defensive home is unclear but he might fit best in an outfield corner.
39. Rodolfo Nolasco, OF
Much like Shalin Polanco, Nolasco has big-time power but must find a better approach in order for it to play. In a return to Low-A, he was the epitome of a three-true-outcome player, with 54% of his plate appearances ending in either strikeout, walk or home run. He hits the ball plenty hard but misses too often.
40. David Matoma, RHP
Matoma was signed out of Uganda in 2023 and made his debut in the Dominican Summer League. He’s got a quick arm and has thrown 100 mph with his fastball, which he backs with an improving slider. He’s one to monitor as he moves stateside in 2024.
