The Pittsburgh Pirates released their minor league rosters yesterday, ahead of today’s Opening Day for Altoona, Greensboro, and Bradenton. The full rosters can be seen in the image below.
This week’s article drop featured the top 50 prospects in the Pirates’ system, along with an early look at the top ten prospects at each level. There were a few assignments that were off from that preview, with some players ending up at a different level than their spring assignments and playing time would suggest.
With the 2024 minor league season upon us, I’ve identified at least two players per level to follow this year, based on the Opening Day assignments.
Indianapolis
There aren’t many surprises here, as this group is mostly veterans and prospects who can provide depth at the MLB level. With the catching injuries at the Major League level, Carter Bins is a guy I’m following in Triple-A. Bins is one of the best defenders in the upper levels, and can hit the ball hard. He’s shown both of that early in this season, and could emerge as a depth option in the majors by the end of the year.
The biggest story is obviously Paul Skenes. He makes his next start on Friday, and the question is when he will arrive in Pittsburgh this year. I don’t have a problem with Skenes going down to the minors to start the year. He was considered the best starting pitching prospect in the draft since Stephen Strasburg, and Strasburg pitched 55 innings across 11 starts in the minors before getting the call to the big leagues in 2010. The idea that a pitcher can go from NCAA to MLB instantly treats players as if they are video game characters. Skenes will arrive this summer, and if he continues performing like he did in the first start, he should be up in May. Until then, he’ll be working on adjusting to the pro schedule.
Altoona
The biggest surprise here isn’t about who made the roster, but instead, who didn’t make the roster. Termarr Johnson should be at this level, in my opinion, due to his advanced approach at the plate. I can see an argument for allowing him to gain confidence and work on things in the lower levels before moving up to Altoona. He’s 19-years-old, but if there was any teenager who was ready for Double-A, it would be Johnson. My concern is he won’t get challenged appropriately in High-A. He should be in Altoona by mid-season.
There’s no shortage of prospects to follow at this level. Bubba Chandler and Anthony Solometo are consensus top five prospects who will frontline the rotation. Thomas Harrington will eventually join them when he’s healthy, and Tsung-Che Cheng will be playing in the field, giving Altoona two additional top ten guys. Outside of this elite group, I’m watching outfielders Jase Bowen and Tres Gonzales. I was impressed with the center field abilities of Bowen last year in Greensboro, and want to see him playing in an outfield with more space. Gonzales has advanced plate patience and will be fun to watch against upper level pitchers.
Greensboro
I mentioned above that I would have liked to see Termarr Johnson in Altoona. You could add Jack Brannigan to that list. The Pirates sent both infielders to Greensboro, and I think it’s only a matter of time before both are in Altoona. Brannigan features plus defense at both positions on the left side of the infield, with plus raw power. There’s an argument that both of these players need to work on their swing and miss, and that would be easier in the lower level. I expect both to be in Altoona by mid-season.
Lonnie White Jr. is the guy I’m most looking forward to at this level, and perhaps at any level. He finally got his first extended stretch of games last year, and was one of the best hitters in the system down the stretch. He’ll have the boost of hitting in Greensboro this year, but I think he could put up some numbers home and away. I’m also interesting in watching the contact skills and hustle from Mitch Jebb in his first full season.
Bradenton
I expected Bradenton to have more upside guys, with Estuar Suero, Tony Blanco Jr., Yordany De Los Santos, and Jhonny Severino all getting a shot at this level. I could see those guys working into the mix as the season progresses, in order to limit their playing time.
The top guys to follow at this level are LHP Michael Kennedy and RHP Carlos Jimenez. Kennedy picked up a lot of strikeouts last year, working with a three pitch mix. Jimenez has one of the best changeups in the system, and needs to improve his control and command. I’m also interested in the catching situation, with Omar Alfonzo and Garret Forrester both looking like sleeper prospects.
