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Pirates Prospects Daily: Pitching Continues To Be Strength Of the System

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It’s hard to say a lot went right over the course of a 100-loss Pirates season last year. Down the stretch, the rotation really showed some promise, and was one of the strongest parts of the team.

This past week we’ve seen the offense really explode, scoring 52 runs over the past eight games — and that’s including a game they were shutout in.

Still, even with the offense, the pitching staff continues to put them in a great position to win. With Roansy Contreras picking up another quality start, that gives the Pirates’ rotation 10 straight.

The even more impressive part of it has been factoring the rough start to the season that both Rich Hill and Vince Velasquez had, with both chipping in a couple of very strong outings the last two times through the rotation.

There has been a big focus on throwing breaking, and secondary pitches, especially if the numbers favor them over the fastball. I wrote about Johan Oviedo, and his success since increasing his curveball usage. He’s not the only one adapting that philosophy.

Contreras hasn’t had much success when it comes to generating swings and misses with the fastball this season, but the slider remains an elite pitch. Thursday against the Reds, he didn’t get any whiffs on 17 swings against his fastball, but got 14 on 24 against the slider.

He threw 50 sliders compared to 37 fastballs, and pitched 6.2 innings while striking out eight.

It looks like they’ve found a recipe for success when it comes to their rotation, and the results only further prove it.

PROSPECT NOTES

— Roansy wasn’t the only young starting pitcher on display in the system on Thursday. Bubba ChandlerJared JonesAlessandro Ercolani all started for their respective affiliate and all came away with strong outings.

Ercolani had a rough debut last week, but bounced back to pitch four one-hit innings, striking out four. The control is still something that will have to be improved upon, as he has seven walks in 6.2 innings to begin the season.

The numbers doesn’t exactly paint the whole story for Chander so far this year, but he did complete five innings for the for just the second time in his professional career, striking out six batters. 

For Jones, the stuff has always been there, it’s just a matter of harnessing it. He completed five full innings for the first time this season, and while he allowed seven hits, he also didn’t walk a single batter.

Check out the rest of the daily minor league results in the Prospect Watch:

Prospect Watch: Solid Outings from Jared Jones and Bubba Chandler, Five RBIs from Jase Bowen

PIRATES DVR

One of five strikeouts for Jones on the night, this one to get the game started.

Endy picked up another home run on the night, but would later have to leave the game after apparently hurting himself throwing to second base.

Anthony Murphy
Anthony Murphy
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.

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