Yesterday I released my top 50 tiered rankings for the Pittsburgh Pirates system. Continuing with the top prospect trend, this week I’ll be reviewing the rosters of the four full-season teams, showing which players to follow on each team down the stretch.
First up is Triple-A Indianapolis, which features a top prospect-heavy rotation, a few trade deadline additions, and some fringe Major League depth.
The Rotation
The Pirates have a promising rotation for years in Pittsburgh, led by the trio of Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller, and Jared Jones. Add to that mix Bailey Falter, Luis Ortiz, and the 2025 return of Johan Oviedo, and there are no shortage of quality pitchers serving as options for the Major League staff.
Despite the quality of options in the Majors, the Pirates have a group of prospects in Triple-A who could force their way into the mix in the next year.
Bubba Chandler, the top prospect in the system, leads the way. Featuring a fastball that sits upper-90s, along with a quality slider, changeup, and curveball, Chandler has the chance to throw four above-average pitches, with improving control this season. He’s followed by number three prospect Thomas Harrington and number six prospect Braxton Ashcraft.
I’ve made this comparison in yesterday’s top 50 writeup (where you can find reports on all of these pitchers): Chandler, Harrington, and Ashcraft are a lite version of the Skenes, Keller, Jones trio.
The quality of the rotation options have changed a lot in the last year. To illustrate the changes, Mike Burrows was seen as one of the top rotation options before his Tommy John surgery in 2023. A year later, he’s the number ten prospect in the system, but the field has become much more crowded.
If you see Indianapolis play, you’re likely to see a future Major Leaguer on the mound. Chandler, Harrington, Ashcraft (injured), Burrows, and even number 41 prospect Aaron Shortridge could pitch in the big leagues one day. The top ten guys will likely impact the future Pirates rotation.
The Trade Deadline Hitters
Indianapolis is loaded with pitching prospects, and they received a boost on the hitting side at the trade deadline. The Pirates acquired Nick Yorke for Quinn Priester, and Billy Cook for Patrick Reilly. In both moves, the Pirates traded from their pitching depth to boost their upper-level hitting depth.
Yorke and Cook have been hitting well in Triple-A.
Yorke, the number four prospect in the system, had an .898 OPS with Boston’s Triple-A squad prior to the trade, and is batting for a .903 OPS with Indianapolis since the deal.
Cook, the number nine prospect, was hitting for an .857 OPS with Baltimore, and has improved to a .943 OPS in a smaller sample with Indianapolis.
The Pirates could see both of these guys impacting the lineup in 2025. Yorke can play second base and the outfield, and will likely serve as an alternative option to Nick Gonzales. Cook can play all over the field, including first base and all three outfield spots.
Fringe Major Leaguers
With six of the top ten prospects in the system, Indianapolis has no shortage of future starting options in the Majors. They also have a few potential depth options, who could work their way onto a Major League roster full-time. Here are three inside of the top 50, and one more as a wild card to watch.
Matt Gorski (26) – Gorski shows the potential for plus defense in center field, along with the ability to hit for power. His ability to hit for average is in question, due to swing and miss from a longer, disconnected swing. The power and defense could get him to the Majors if he adds some consistency with his bat.
Malcom Nunez (33) – Nunez is in his third season in Triple-A, but only in his age 23 season. He’s hitting for a .695 OPS, and isn’t maximizing the power potential from his stocky frame. He can play both corner infield spots, but profiles better at first base, which will require more consistent power production.
Aaron Shortridge (41) – Shortridge hasn’t done well in his first run through the Triple-A level this year, and his career was delayed a bit by Tommy John the previous few seasons. He’s pitched as a starter his entire career, but could have more success reaching the majors as a reliever, which might allow success by simplifying his five-pitch approach into the most effective combo.
Isaac Mattson (Tier 8) – Mattson has pitched well out of the bullpen this year, featuring a mid-90s fastball, along with a slider and changeup that both generate swing and miss. He’s in his age-29 season, but is putting up his best numbers at the Triple-A level, with a 3.26 ERA and a 62:28 K/BB in 49.2 innings. His control has improved over the last two months, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him get a shot before the year is finished.
Final Thought
The above players only include prospects, and that doesn’t include Liover Peguero or other potential Major Leaguers. Peguero is in his age-23 season this year, but hasn’t put together a great season at the level. He’s still younger than Gorski, Shortridge, and Mattson by a few years each, showing he still has time to get things right at the level.
Check back Wednesday for a look at the Double-A Altoona roster.
