There weren’t any Pittsburgh Pirates’ affiliates that were able to pull out a first half division win, but things are starting to pick up steam with quite a handful of promotions internally and around the league. That being said, this list is going off of the latest information I have seen or heard, and may very easily change in the next day or so.
Triple-A: Indianapolis Indians
The NL Central foe has had quite the list of prospects find their way to MLB this season. Their roster gets a new boost with the recent promotion of Noelvi Marte, who was acquired as part of a package from the Seattle Mariners for Luis Castillo. Christian Encarnacion-Strand — who was acquired from the Minnesota Twins for Tyler Mahle — is having a massive year, breaking on to multiple Top 100 lists as the year goes on. With the promotion of Marte, that gives the Cincinnati Reds affiliate two Top 100 prospects, even after a handful have moved on to MLB this year. The Indianapolis Indians now have two top 100 pitching prospects — Jared Jones cracked Baseball America Top 100, and Quinn Priester now shows up on Pipeline and Baseball America — and they should get familiar with the Louisville Bats’ roster, as they’ll be seeing them frequently as their careers continue.
Opponent: LOUISVILLE (REDS)
Opponent Stats
Team OPS: .871 OPS
Rank: 1/20
Team ERA: 5.82
ERA Rank: 19/20
Top Prospects
Player | Position | Pipeline Ranking
- NOELVI MARTE | SS/3B | 2
- MLB Pipeline Top 100: #19
- Baseball America Top 100: #54
- CHRISTIAN ENCARNACION-STRAND | 1B/3B | 6
- MLB Pipeline Top 100: #94
- Baseball America Top 100: #88
- LEVI STOUDT | RHP | 13
- MICHAEL SIANI | OF | 21
- RICKY KARCHER | RHP | 27
DOUBLE-A: ALTOONA CURVE
The Altoona Curve face the highest ranked Top 100 prospect of the week. Outfielder James Wood was acquired by the Washington Nationals during the 2022 trade deadline as part of a package from the San Diego Padres, for Juan Soto and Josh Bell. He has flown up rankings, being promoted to Double-A at the end of May. If that wasn’t enough, the second Top 100 prospect on the Harrisburg Senators is another outfielder that was also acquired in the same deal as Wood, 2020 first round pick Robert Hassell III. This will be a great test for the newly minted MLB Pipeline Top 100 pitcher Anthony Solometo, as well as Braxton Ashcraft who has so far seen a fantastic season upon returning from Tommy John surgery.
Opponent: HARRISBURG (NATIONALS)
Opponent Stats
Team OPS: .686 OPS
Rank: 12/12
Team ERA: 4.53
ERA Rank: 9/12
Top Prospects
Player | Position | Pipeline Ranking
- JAMES WOOD | OF | 1
- MLB Pipeline Top 100: #6
- Baseball America Top 100: #5
- ROBERT HASSELL III | OF | 5
- MLB Pipeline Top 100: #99
- Baseball America Top 100: #89
- JACKSON RUTLEDGE | RHP | 11
- COLE HENRY (Development List) | RHP | 12
- ZACH BRZYKCY (Full Season IL) | RHP | 17
- TREY LIPSCOMB | 3B | 18
- MITCHELL PARKER (Development List) | LHP | 22
- GERARDO CARRILLO (Full Season IL) | RHP | 26
HIGH-A: GREENSBORO GRASSHOPPERS
The High A affiliate sees the lightest competition of the week, but it should still be an exciting week for recently nominated MLB Future’s Game pitcher, JP Massey. The Texas Rangers’ affiliate has eight of their top 30 prospects, but Hickory Crawdads starting pitcher Kumar Rocker had Tommy John surgery, and is out for the year.
Opponent: HICKORY (RANGERS)
Opponent Stats
Team OPS: .700 OPS
Rank: 8/12
Team ERA: 4.41
ERA Rank: 8/12
Top Prospects
Player | Position | Pipeline Ranking
- KUMAR ROCKER (Full Season IL) | RHP | 9
- MITCH BRATT | LHP | 16
- EMILIANO TEODO | RHP | 20
- DAN ACKER | RHP | 22
- ALEJANDRO OSUNA | OF | 24
- MAX ACOSTA | SS/2B | 25
- JOSH STEPHAN | RHP | 28
- WINSTON SANTOS | RHP | 29
SINGLE-A: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Opponent: CLEARWATER (PHILLIES)
The Philadelphia Phillies affiliate ran away with the first half division lead. The Clearwater Threshers enter the second half with Justin Crawford having found himself on multiple mid-season Top 100 lists. Half the roster is either hurt or on the development list, but that hasn’t stopped them from stacking up wins this year. Termarr Johnson has been on a tear after a few weeks of rust following a spring training injury. A few starting pitchers have moved along, but lesser known names like Alessandro Ercolani and Wilber Dotel have been on recent solid stretches that they’ll look to continue. The Pirates pitching development seems to be stepping ahead of the hitter development, so it will be something to keep an eye on.
Opponent Stats
Team OPS: .743 OPS
Rank: 2/10
Team ERA: 4.15
ERA Rank: 3/10
Top Prospects
Player | Position | Pipeline Ranking
- JUSTIN CRAWFORD | OF | 3
- MLB Pipeline Top 100: #90
- Baseball America Top 100: #96
- ALEX MCFARLANE (Development List) | RHP | 8
- WILLIAM BERGOLLA | SS | 11
- EMAARION BOYD | OF | 12
- JORDAN VIARS | OF | 13
- MICAH OTTENBREIT (60-Day IL) | RHP | 19
- JAYDENN ESTANISTA (7-Day IL) | RHP | 27
- NIKAU POUAKA-GREGO (60-Day IL) | 2B/3B | 29
