Anthony Solometo was the highest ranked left handed pitching prospect in the 2021 draft, and the Pirates were able to grab him up with the 37th overall pick.
As a southpaw, Solometo filled a much needed hole in a lefty-depleted organization. Despite playing the entire 2022 season at 19-years-old, he put together one of the most impressive campaigns of any prospects in the system.
Solometo posted a 2.64 ERA over 47.2 innings, striking out 51 batters, and walking 19. He also only surrendered 31 hits in that span, holding opponents to an .188 average. The ERA was backed up by a 2.83 FIP, and put up a decent for a 19-year-old walk rate of 10.1%.
It was another number that stood out for Solometo, and the season he put together — he didn’t allow a home run in those 47.2 innings pitched. For someone at that age, pitching in a league he was going to be one of the youngest, to not surrender a home run is impressive.
Solometo’s sinker/slider combination helped him put up a ground ball rate of 50.9% in Bradenton, which is going to be huge going into next year whenever he pitches in Greensboro — a place that can eat up and spit out the best of pitching prospects.
In his first full season in the Pirates’ system, Solometo came as advertised. While he has plenty to work on — he is still just 19-years-old — Solometo has shown he is a quick study and can make the adjustments needed to succeed. He quickly made an adjustment to his delivery out of the stretch after base runners ran wild on him in his first appearance.
The Pirates are hoping to get multiple impact players out of the 2021 draft class, and Solometo took every right step forward you’d want to see out of a first year player.
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Anthony began writing over 10 years ago, starting a personal blog to cover the 2011 MLB draft, where the Pirates selected first overall. After bouncing around many websites covering hockey, he refocused his attention to baseball, his first love when it comes to sports. He eventually found himself here at Pirates Prospects in late 2021, where he covers the team’s four full season minor league affiliates.
If you watch Solometo, he has an unusual leg motion. As long as he is able to maintain his balance and repeat it consistently, it is probably an advantage. I’m half expecting the Pirates to try and change that to a more traditional motion at some point.
He’ll refine it through time, that’s what the minors are for. Can we get Rateliff & the night sweats in for an after game concert? That looked like fun!
He has a lot to prove but has shown the ability to adjust as needed. I think he will become a star in time.
I just hope that he is not one of those thousands of lefties who start to get pounded as they go up levels. I’ve never recovered from Pitcher of the Year Rudy Owens.
Pls. Be. The. Real. Deal!
To be fair, the scouts never loved Rudy
His career also illustrates why minor league stats don’t tell you much.