MLB Pipeline did their first significant update to their top 100 list since back on May 15th. That list had four members of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Their new update has movement for all four players, as well as a new name on the list.
The top prospect for the Pirates according to Pipeline is Termarr Johnson. He was ranked 22nd overall in the update last month. He has moved down slightly in the rankings, now coming in at the 30th spot.
Johnson had a rough start to the season after missing time due to a Spring Training hamstring injury. It looked like there was some rust when he got into his early games, as they cut short his time in Extended Spring Training rehabbing and quickly bumped him up to Bradenton. It took him a few weeks before he started doing well.
Johnson is currently hitting .245/.412/.428 in 48 games. He has 63 strikeouts in 204 plate appearances.
There’s a change in the 2/3 spots for the Pirates. Henry Davis was ranked 48th overall in the last update. He is now in the 31st spot, one place behind Johnson.
Davis was in Double-A Altoona during the previous update. He’s already worked his way through Triple-A to the majors, so he might not have a prospect status by the time their next update comes around.
Davis has hit .250/.357/.458 over 28 plate appearances in his first seven big league games.
Endy Rodriguez goes from second in the system to third, but he actually moved up in the overall rankings. He was 45th in the last update. He’s now 39th.
Offense is up around the International League this year, but Rodriguez hasn’t been able to put together any stretches of success. He just hit his first homer last night in 40 days. His best monthly OPS this year is well below the league’s average of a .794 OPS. He’s not doing poorly, and hasn’t looked over-matched, but the stats are below average, which is probably the main reason he is still in Triple-A. He’s also just 5-for-44 in throwing out runners this season.
Rodriguez is hitting .248/.332/.389 in 56 games this year.
Quinn Priester moved up the overall rankings, while remaining fourth in the Pirates system. He’s been a bit inconsistent in his first full season of Triple-A. He’s had some dominating starts, such as his 11 strikeouts over the weekend, but he has also made six starts in which he allowed at least four earned runs.
This month he has three starts in which he allowed one run over 18.2 innings. In his other two June starts, he gave up ten earned runs in 10.1 innings.
Priester went from 67th to 57th in the new rankings.
The final Pirates player on the list is Anthony Solometo, who was recently bumped up to Double-A Altoona at 20 years old. He has a 2.23 ERA this season, while making regular starts at a hitter-friendly home park with Greensboro until his promotion. He has a 1.14 WHIP and 81 strikeouts in 68.2 innings. He has allowed two earned runs over ten innings since joining Altoona.
Solometo debuts on the list in the 100th spot.
