Pittsburgh Pirates 2019 Midseason Top 50 Prospects

Mason Martin. Lakeland Flying Tigers vs. Bradenton Marauders, Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium. Lakeland, FL. Aug, 18, 2019. Photo by Tom Hagerty/MiLB, and on Flickr (lakelandlocal)

Not necessarily a midseason list but more of an updated end-of-season Top 50 prospects list for the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. Bailey Srebnik (@FsuBailey12) and Scott Greene (@Scotty_Ballgame) collaborated on this project, and these rankings are a combined effort on their part.

Prospects1500 Tiers:
Tier 1: Players with high expectations of both making the majors and playing at an All-Star level for a number of years
Tier 2: Players with an above average expectation of making the majors and being a solid contributor
Tier 3: Players with an average expectation of making the majors and being a solid contributor
Tier 4: Players who have the potential of making the majors, or have high likelihood of making the majors but providing minimal impact (e.g. middle reliever, low-ceiling UT guys)
Tier 5: Players who are worth keeping an eye on, but likely to never make a team’s 40-man roster

Tier 1:
None


Tier 2:

1. Mitch Keller, RHP (Preseason #1)
Age: 23
2019 Highest Level: MLB

2. Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B (Preseason #2)
Age: 22
2019 Highest Level: AAA

3. Oneil Cruz, SS (Preseason #3)
Age: 21
2019 Highest Level: AA

4. Travis Swaggerty, OF (Preseason #4)
Age: 22
2019 Highest Level: A+

Swaggerty was selected 10th overall in the 2018 MLB Draft. The 22-year-old lefty out of South Alabama had a solid start to the season, with pretty good numbers in April and May as he adjusted to the FSL. He then had a slump in June, but after a big performance in the ASG he had an excellent 2nd Half. He really put the pieces together as he had an OPS of .822 in July and .906 in August. He was especially good in August, with an OBP of .416 and a SLG of .490, both season-highs for a monthly OBP and SLG. He is also a great runner as his 23 SB this season would indicate. He had a very successful, consistent, and productive first full season and it will be fun to see what he does next year.

5. Mason Martin, 1B/OF (Preseason #27)
Age: 20
2019 Highest Level: A+

Martin was a 17th round pick out of Southridge HS in 2017. The 20-year-old left-handed hitter had two good seasons in ’17 and ’18 to begin his career. The one concern may have been his K%, but it was not that bad for a power hitter. Martin’s 2019 campaign was his best season yet. Over 2 levels, he clubbed 35 HR and was great across the board too. His 35 HR were the most by any non-AAA prospect this season, and 4th overall. The most incredible part of that was he hit 12 of those HR during his 49 games in the FSL, the most pitcher-friendly league in MiLB. Martin also cut down his K% a little bit, as well. Definitely a phenomenal and very exciting season by Martin.

6. Cal Mitchell, OF (Preseason #6)
Age: 20
2019 Highest Level: A+

Mitchell was a 2nd round pick, 50th overall, in the 2017 MLB Draft. The 20 year old out of Rancho Bernardo HS got off to a hot start to begin the season. In April, he had an OPS of .807 with 4 HR. He had a strong month in May, too. He struggled in June, which was his least productive month of the season. A major highlight of June for him, however, was playing in the ASG and earning the MVP Honors. He had 2 doubles in the ASG. He was terrific in July, the month where his OPS was the highest (.840) and he hit the most HR (5). He concluded the season with a decent month in August. He had a great season overall.

7. Quinn Priester, RHP (Preseason N/A)
Age: 19
2019 Highest Level: A-

Priester was chosen 18th overall in the 2019 MLB Draft. His fastball can reach 97 mph, and his curveball is very nasty; it averages at 80 mph with great movement. Priester was named the 2019 Gatorade Illinois high school player of the year. The 18-year-old RHP has been dominant in his nine games with the GCL Pirates, striking out about 10 batters per 9 innings.

8. Jared Oliva, OF (Preseason #11)
Age: 23
2019 Highest Level: AA

9. Sammy Siani, OF (Preseason N/A)
Age: 18
2019 Highest Level: Rk

Siani was selected 37th overall in the 2019 MLB Draft. He is a great hitter and has a great arm. His brother Michael Siani was drafted in the 4th round of the 2018 MLB Draft by the Cincinnati Reds, and has had a tremendous career so far. Sammy is adjusted well to the GCL.


Tier 3:

10. Cody Bolton, RHP (Preseason #22)
Age: 21
2019 Highest Level: AA

Bolton was chosen in the 6th round of the 2017 MLB Draft. In the first half of the 2019 season, it was more of a question of what he COULDN’T do than what he could. In 12 games with Bradenton, he lead the league in ERA (1.61) , was tied for the league lead in WHIP (0.859), and averaged over 10 K’s per 9 innings pitched. I had the pleasure of seeing him pitch for Bradenton in May, and he completely shutdown the hitters that night. He, of course, made the All Star team to cap off a tremendous first half of the season. He was promoted to Double-A a week after the ASG. He struggled at first to find consistency, but in his 4th AA start he pitched 6 one-hit innings. He finished out the season by pitching well in about every other start. He unfortunately missed the final week of the season due to an injury. Overall, he had a fantastic season and should be able to build on his success in 2020.

11. Ji-Hwan Bae, SS/2B (Preseason #18)
Age: 20
2019 Highest Level: A

12. Will Craig, 1B/3B (Preseason #14)
Age: 24
2019 Highest Level: AAA

13. Braxton Ashcraft, RHP (Preseason #15)
Age: 20
2019 Highest Level: A-

14. Kevin Kramer, 2B/OF (Preseason #10)
Age: 26
2019 Highest Level: MLB

15. Lolo Sanchez, OF (Preseason #8)
Age: 20
2019 Highest Level: A+

16. Luis Escobar, RHP (Preseason #12)
Age: 23
2019 Highest Level: MLB

17. Tahnaj Thomas, RHP (Preseason #39)
Age: 20
2019 Highest Level: Rk

18. Rodolfo Castro, 2B/SS (Preseason #43)
Age: 20
2019 Highest Level: A+


Tier 4:

19. Max Kranick, RHP (Preseason #25)
Age: 22
2019 Highest Level: A+

20. Matt Gorski, OF (Preseason N/A)
Age: 21
2019 Highest Level: A-

21. Jason Martin, OF (Preseason #17)
Age: 23
2019 Highest Level: AAA

22. Steven Jennings, RHP (Preseason #13)
Age: 20
2019 Highest Level: A

23. Travis MacGregor, RHP (Preseason #16)
Age: 22
2019 Highest Level: A

24. Aaron Shortridge, RHP (Preseason #36)
Age: 22
2019 Highest Level: A+

25. Jared Triolo, 3B (Preseason N/A)
Age: 21
2019 Highest Level: A-

26. Jack Herman, OF (Preseason #37)
Age: 20
2019 Highest Level: A

27. Dylan Busby, 3B (Preseason #50)
Age: 23
2019 Highest Level: A+

28. Juan Pie, OF (Preseason #21)
Age: 18
2019 Highest Level: A-

29. Blake Cederlind, RHP (Preseason NR)
Age: 23
2019 Highest Level: AAA

30. Michael Burrows, RHP (Preseason #44)
Age: 19
2019 Highest Level: A-

31. Cody Ponce, RHP (Preseason NR)
Age: 25
2019 Highest Level: AAA

32. Osvaldo Bido, RHP (Preseason #47)
Age: 24
2019 Highest Level: A+

33. Santiago Florez, RHP (Preseason #32)
Age: 19
2019 Highest Level: Rk

34. Braeden Ogle, LHP (Preseason #46)
Age: 22
2019 Highest Level: A+

35. Nick Burdi, RHP (Preseason #26)
Age: 26
2019 Highest Level: MLB

36. James Marvel, RHP (Preseason NR)
Age: 26
2019 Highest Level: MLB


Tier 5:

37. Matthew Fraizer, OF (Preseason NR)
Age: 21
2019 Highest Level: A-

38. JT Brubaker, RHP (Preseason #30)
Age: 25
2019 Highest Level: AAA

39. Domingo Robles, LHP (Preseason #31)
Age: 21
2019 Highest Level: AA

40. Alexander Mojica, 3B (Preseason NR)
Age: 17
2019 Highest Level: Rk (DOSL)

41. Jonah Davis, OF (Preseason #35)
Age: 22
2019 Highest Level: A

42. Robbie Glendinning, SS/3B (Preseason NR)
Age: 24
2019 Highest Level: AA

43. Connor Kaiser, SS (Preseason #34)
Age: 22
2019 Highest Level: A

44. Stephen Alemais, SS (Preseason #20)
Age: 24
2019 Highest Level: AA

45. Lucas Tancas, 1B/OF (Preseason NR)
Age: 25
2019 Highest Level: A+

46. Conner Uselton, OF (Preseason #23)
Age: 21
2019 Highest Level: Rk

47. Brandon Waddell, LHP (Preseason #24)
Age: 25
2019 Highest Level: AAA

48. Deon Stafford, C (Preseason #28)
Age: 23
2019 Highest Level: A+

49. Chris Sharpe, OF (Preseason NR)
Age: 23
2019 Highest Level: AA

50. Shendrik Apostel, 1B (Preseason #38)
Age: 19
2019 Highest Level: Rk (DOSL)

And a few more:
51. Cam Vieaux, LHP (Preseason #45)
Age: 25
2019 Highest Level: AAA

52. Hunter Stratton, RHP (Preseason #49)
Age: 22
2019 Highest Level: A+

53. Grant Koch, C (Preseason #48)
Age: 22
2019 Highest Level: A

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