We’re simulating the 2020 season daily, all season, with the next game posting at 3:10 PM EST today.
We’re also doing another simulation, speeding ahead to the 2025 season to see how the current prospects are doing.
Yesterday I detailed the 2020 results for that simulation. The Pirates actually made the playoffs, but lost in four games to the Braves in the NLDS.
Here are the quick highlights for the 2021 season, focusing on the prospects as they rise in the system.
Prospect Reports
Here are our top 20 prospects, per the 2020 Prospect Guide. This looks at how they fared in the 2021 simulation.
Mitch Keller: Made 8 starts with the Pirates, with a 2.98 ERA in 42.1 IP, and a 41:15 K/BB ratio. Had his season shortened with a ruptured tendon in his finger on his right hand. Missed 4-5 months, but returned for rehab by the end of the year.
Ke’Bryan Hayes: Hayes spent the entire season in the majors. He hit for a .291/.376/.446 line with 12 homers and 40 doubles in 619 plate appearances.
Oneil Cruz: Returned to Altoona with a .767 OPS, which was down from an .882 OPS last year. Made it up to Indianapolis briefly at the end of the season.
Liover Peguero: Had a .710 OPS in 570 plate appearances in his jump to Double-A. Hit three homers and stole 17 bases in 30 attempts.
Cody Bolton: Was in Indianapolis all year, where he had a 4.59 ERA in 145 innings over 26 starts.
Tahnaj Thomas: Had a 4.85 ERA in 72.1 IP with Greensboro, along with a 95:28 K/BB ratio.
Quinn Priester: Split the season between Morgantown (3.82 ERA in 35.1 IP) and Greensboro (4.73 ERA in 32.1 IP).
Brennan Malone: Spent most of his season in relief with Morgantown. Had a 5.94 ERA in 33.1 innings, with a 43:16 K/BB.
Ji-Hwan Bae: After a .583 OPS with Greensboro last year, Bae made the jump to Altoona, where he had a .788 OPS in just 140 plate appearances.
Braxton Ashcraft: Had a 5.03 ERA in 107.1 innings with Altoona.
Michael Burrows: Split the season between Greensboro (3.90 ERA, 57.2 IP) and Bradenton (4.22 ERA, 53.1 IP). Missed time at the end of the season with a lingering back injury.
Travis Swaggerty: Moved up to Indianapolis, where he had a .782 OPS, 11 homers, and 28 stolen bases in 571 plate appearances.
JT Brubaker: Had his first healthy season since 2018, with a 4.33 ERA in 27 starts, and 154 strikeouts in 166.1 innings.
Will Craig: Made it back up to Indianapolis and had a .754 OPS on the season.
Nick Mears: Had a 2.29 ERA in 39.1 innings with Altoona, with a 44:19 K/BB ratio. Shut down in August with right shoulder tendinitis.
Jared Oliva: Oliva moved to first base for some reason. It could be due to a right shoulder injury he had at the end of the 2020 season. He had a .924 OPS in 106 PA with Altoona, and a .723 OPS in Indianapolis over 167 PA.
Mason Martin: Returned to Bradenton with a .750 OPS, and moved up to Altoona for 21 games at the end of the year.
Calvin Mitchell: Had an .860 OPS and 17 homers in 473 plate appearances with Altoona.
Sammy Siani: Had a .791 OPS with Bristol, and five separate injuries that cost him a combined 18 days between mid-July and the end of August.
Travis MacGregor: Returned to Altoona, posting a 5.58 ERA in 108 innings.
Fun Stuff
**The Pirates finished 82-80, second place in the NL Central.
**Ke’Bryan Hayes was named the NL Rookie of the Year.
**The first round pick was UCLA second baseman Matt McLain, who received $4.04 M to sign. He’s got 20/55 overall upside.
**The top international signing was a center fielder who got $1.68 M.
**Jameson Taillon signed a three-year extension worth $30.5 M, keeping him on the team through the 2024 season, and making $12 M a year in the final two years of the deal.
**The Pirates claimed Josh Reddick off waivers and traded for Kevin Pillar during the season.
**Check back tomorrow for the 2022 results.
**Check back today at 3:10 PM EST for the daily 2020 simulation.
