Pittsburgh Pirates Breakout MLB Prospects Entering 2024

Breakout Prospects

Lonnie White Jr., OF

Preseason rank: 17
BA Grade: 50. Risk: Extreme.

TRACK RECORD: White was a highly valued prospect in the 2021 draft based on an athletic skill set that earned him a scholarship offer to play baseball and football at Penn State. Instead, the Pirates chose him with the No. 64 pick and gave him a $1.5 million bonus. Three seasons later, injuries have kept him off the field and his talent under wraps. Sixty-one of his 71 career games came in 2023.

SCOUTING REPORT: Though the early portion of his career has been extremely limited, White’s tools still are intact and intriguing. Scouts see a player with three above-average or plus tools, including speed that grades out as a 60. His hit tool lags behind, but the Pirates are working with White to get it closer to average. Specifically, they’re working to get his body a bit more loose and improve his bat angle to create a better path through the zone that adds a little more loft. White was rusty as expected, and he whiffed in-zone at rates that don’t indicate a pure hitter. He didn’t chase much, however, and his exit velocities were solid. White is a pure center fielder with above-average defense and an average arm.

THE FUTURE: Simply staying on the field for an extended period was a boon for White’s career. He should spend his 2024 season at the Class A levels, and he is one of the system’s prime breakout candidates if he can stay healthy. He has a ceiling as a well-rounded center fielder.

Scouting Grades
Hitting: 40. Power: 55. Run: 60. Fielding: 55. Arm: 50.

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Jun-Seok Shim, RHP

Preseason rank: 19
BA Grade: 50. Risk: Extreme.

TRACK RECORD: Shim was the top signing in Pittsburgh’s 2023 international class, which opened on Jan. 15. He was coveted because of his combination of physicality, polish and present stuff. He dealt with an elbow injury that cut short his 2021 season and then missed significant time again in 2023 with an injury to his pectoral muscles. He struck out 13 hitters in the eight innings he pitched before landing on the IL.

SCOUTING REPORT: In the brief time he was on the mound, Shim showed some of the best pure stuff in the Florida Complex League. His fastball sat between 95-98 mph with carry through the zone, and his curveball showed spin rates better than 3,000 rpm. He throws a slider as well, though sometimes the two breaking balls blend together. He and the Pirates worked to add a changeup to his mix as well. There were concerns about whether Shim had enough mobility in his hips to eventually handle a starter’s workload. They believe there was progress in that regard, but also acknowledge it might have led to the chest injury. Even in the brief time Shim pitched in games, scouts were impressed with his stuff, poise and calm demeanor on the hill. 

THE FUTURE: Shim will turn 20 in the first week of the minor league season, and he might be advanced enough to jump to Low-A instead of returning to the FCL. He has some of the most eye-opening upside of any of the youngest arms in the Pirates’ system.

Scouting Grades
Fastball: 60. Curveball: 60. Slider: 55. Control: 50.

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Estuar Suero, OF

Preseason rank: 23
BA Grade: 50. Risk: Extreme.

TRACK RECORD: Suero was part of the Padres’ 2022 international signing class that has already produced players who figured into two trades. Massive righthander Jarlin Susana was shipped to the Nationals in the Juan Soto deal, and Suero was dealt to the Pirates in the deal that brought Rich Hill and Ji-Man Choi to the Padres. Suero opened eyes during spring training and is one of the more intriguing prospects in the lower levels of Pittsburgh’s system.

SCOUTING REPORT: Suero is a classic tool shed who has a ceiling that needs plenty of time to develop. He’s a twitchy athlete with smooth swings from both sides of the plate and the potential for above-average power. His frame is loose and lanky, but there’s plenty of room to add more bulk. If that happens, his impact should be amplified. As it is, he produced below-average exit velocities and swung and missed a touch too often. He gets good reads in the outfield and can play center field for now but might move to a corner as his body fills out. Scouts who saw him this spring believe enough in his body’s future to project plus raw power one day.

THE FUTURE: When they dealt for him, the Pirates were betting on Suero’s upside. It will take years to reach that ceiling, but it might be worth the wait. He’ll head to Low-A Bradenton in 2024.

Scouting Grades
Hitting: 50. Power: 55. Run: 55. Fielding: 50. Arm: 60.