Welcome to the Pirates Prospects daily video rundown, where we pull some of the top videos of the Pittsburgh Pirates across the internet.
Canaan Smith-Njigba
What better way to celebrate making the Opening Day roster than to flex some of that power that put him in that position to breaking camp with the Major League team.
Canaan Smith-Njigba is here. pic.twitter.com/NdXnvrqypz
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) March 28, 2023
Smith-Njigba launched this three-run home run to temporarily give the Pirates a lead.
Javier Rivas
The infielder had a really strong season in the FCL last year, and he’s a breakout candidate for the upcoming season when it comes to lower level players. He got a taste of a Major League game on Tuesday, picking up a base hit.
I mentioned the other day how Javier Rivas and Yordany De Los Santos were two prospects I'm really excited to see this year. Rivas got into a game today and got a base hit that had an EV of 110+ mph. #Pirates pic.twitter.com/DDMagxoxm6
— Anthony Murphy (@__Murphy88) March 28, 2023
He flexed even more of his power potential in a minor league scrimmage game on Monday.
Pirates IF prospect Javi Rivas is currently 3-3 with a pair of doubles and this enormous blast for a Home Run. Watch out for this young & developing slugger #futurestar pic.twitter.com/ZdBkCi58dF
— Florida Prospect Report (@FLProspectPod) March 27, 2023
Oneil Cruz
With the regular season getting ready to begin and the regulars start to play a lot more, we can expect even more of this.
The last couple of pitches in the at bat where Oneil Cruz drilled a double to right field. Another batted ball at 110+ mph #Pirates pic.twitter.com/YIERBpEW7S
— Anthony Murphy (@__Murphy88) March 28, 2023
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.
Man I hope CSN is for real. Viscous hack.
You think CSN and Hayes both have the issue of hitting the ball after it crosses the plate? I heard Hayes hasn’t so much changed his swing, but changed where he is trying to make contact (more in front of plate) to get more pull side lift.
That what JBell did that season that he was unreal, and if you recall, he was same as Hayes, lots of hits the opposite way and tons of grounders.
Yeah this just unfortunately turns out to be absolutely terrible hitting advice.
The “catch it out front” strategy drastically reduces time the bat is in the hitting zone, leaves hitters susceptible to offspeed pitches, and is a physical impossibility for pitches on the outer half.
From Ted Williams to Barry Bonds, the best hitters in the history of the game all valued letting the ball travel as far as possible.
The overwhelmingly more successful developmental strategy is to adjust swing plane such that the bat travels through the zone as long as possible.
But by all means, the Pittsburgh Pirates and their illustrious history of successful hitter development may know better. 😉
I know of what you speak because I have had to re-learn and change my approach to instructing my oldest grandson who plays Middle School baseball, and travel ball here in TN. When I was coaching his dad it was more of a level to downward swing plane to enhance backspin on contact.
He’s a Catcher so my best advice to him was to mentally visualize the plane of the ball being released by a 6′ pitcher standing on a 15″ hump so that it gets down into the strike zone when it reaches him behind the plate. Then take that mental image to your daily work off the Tee and soft toss – minimum of 25 swings on each/day. Same plane – ball in, bat out, gap to gap. And that is just one aspect of hitting.
Good on you for being involved!
I’ve been really impressed with CSN this spring. Wasn’t necessarily a fan last year. A little nervous on Suwinski, kind of wish Swaggerty was rostered instead.
My only hesitation is with every ball he’s lifted being belt-high or above.
That seems to be largely how KeBryan got to his power in 2020 before pitchers adjusted.
Here’s to CSN coming into spring with a real swing change that will allow him to lift and put that power to work!
lol my spelling
Next wave
C Axiel
1B Isaac (traded for Reynolds)
2B Wilson (2023 1st rd pick)
SS Rivas
3B Yordanny
RF Blanco / White
CF Shalin
LF Bishop
LH Lobo
LH Kennedy
LH Barco
RH Shim
LH (2023 2nd rd pick high school)
RH (2023 3rd rd pick high school)
RH Tejada
What are you smoking? Wilson as 1-1?!!! No Chandler or Solometo in the rotation?
C’mon man!
Solometo and Chandler I consider part of the an earlier wave
Yes, definitely draft Jacob Wilson 1/1 and go overslot on some big high school pitchers
how do you think we got Solometo and Chandler in the first place?
Just say no to slap hitting MI’s!!!!
like Wade Boggs and Termarr
I love Tony Gwynn, but I’m not taking him over Barry Bonds or Roger Clemens.
Gwynn and Andy Benes and Andy Ashby is tough to pass up over a gamble on Bonds or Mark Merchant
Is Rivas glove at SS good? I think I recalled WM raving about him last year.
Yes, the 6’6” Rivas is good with the glove
Holy smokes, didn’t notice his height…
I am simultaneously both up and down on the bucs offense and pretty much the same for their pitching… realistically could see them winning as much as 78-80 if absolutely everything breaks right but also could see another 62 win team.
So yes, I am ecstatic that baseball is about to start once again
I am Groot.