Pirates Prospects Daily: Abrahan Gutierrez Hitting Ground Running Returning From Injury

With two top 100 prospects that are catchers, it’s easy to overlook the rest of the catching prospects in the Pirates system. One that has certainly gotten stuck behind Henry Davis and Endy Rodriguez is Greensboro catcher Abrahan Gutierrez.

He certainly showed enough of a hitting ability to advance to Double-A entering the season, but due to the logjam in the upper levels, and the Pirates still valuing him getting playing time behind the plate, Gutierrez is still in Greensboro.

An early season trip to the injured list put a good sized dent in his playing time, but he’s hit the ground running since returning to the lineup recently.

Since coming back May 26, Gutierrez has played in three games and is quickly filling the box score with hits. In 12 at-bats, he has seven hits — three of which have been doubles — while driving in seven runs.

A look at the Abrahan Gutierrez RBI double from back in the first inning #LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/kNKc06mA9o

— Anthony Murphy (@__Murphy88) May 26, 2023

He’s picked up three hits in two of those three games he’s played in.

Now that we are in June, we may start to see more and more movement when it comes to where players are assigned.

Gutierrez has always had a great approach at the plate, always being one of best when it comes to Swinging Strike rate (SwStr%) and line drive rate. Him being in Greensboro has less to do with him and more the situation with Davis and Rodriguez.

It’s going to take a couple of big domino pieces falling to get things moving, but he could be on the move shortly after they do.

Prospect Notes

— Matt Fraizer had one of the oddest days at the plate you will see. He picked up a lone hit, a single, but also drove in five runs on the day.

His scoring plays included four fielder’s choice and a single. Certainly not the most ideal way of driving in runs, but a testament to why it is so important to put the ball in play, opens the possibility of almost anything happening.

— It’s a big weekend series for the Pirates against the St. Louis Cardinals, and it’s a pair of young starting pitchers up to set the tone for a month they are looking to bounce back after a rough May.

It looked like Roansy Contreras was heading to a bullpen role (he did come in relief over the weekend), but is getting new life to right the ship staying in the rotation.

Luis Ortiz is taking strides since coming up in May, and will face the Cardinals for the first time since getting chased in the first inning during his last start of 2022. With the depth running thin, it’d be nice to see someone step up behind Mitch Keller, and these two would probably be the most ideal candidates.

Daily Video Rundown

The draft is quickly approaching, with NCAA tournament getting underway this weekend. Dylan Crews has long been the frontrunner to go first overall, and hasn’t done anything to really make people think otherwise.

WE ARE LIVING IN @CONNORSCOTT24'S WORLD!!! pic.twitter.com/rgsopLaDAW

— Altoona Curve (@AltoonaCurve) June 2, 2023

Connor Scott has been on a tear recently offensively, but a good reminder at what he does best, make plays in the outfield.

#pirates fans have been waiting for this for a while. OF prospect Lonnie White hits one for a single in an ext game. Welcome back Lonnie! pic.twitter.com/0kMEDGhRwH

— Florida Prospect Report (@FLProspectPod) June 1, 2023

In a draft full of intriguing players, the tools that Lonnie White had stood out on its own. Unfortunately injuries have kept him off the field for the most part of his professional career. After missing the first part of the season, he’s back at it in extended spring training.