There was a lot of movement in the Pittsburgh Pirates system heading into the month of August. The trade deadline provided a shakeup. The new draft added players at the lowest levels. The rookie leagues ending led to a wave of the top performers moving up through the levels for the final stretch of each season.
Below are the top performers at each level after the shakeup, along with a bonus section for the best performers from the 2024 MLB Draft.
INDIANAPOLIS
TOP HITTER: Matt Gorski, OF – .304/.344/.607, 4 HR, 5 2B, 3 SB
Matt Gorski has been hitting for power all season, with 20 homers and 22 doubles. He hasn’t been pairing that with an ability to get on base. That changed in August, with a .344 OBP to pair with four doubles and five homers, and a .304 average. He also stole three bases in four attempts, ending up the best performer in Triple-A.
Gorski is in his age 26 season, and will be Rule 5 eligible this offseason. He’s got plus defense in center field, with the ability to play all three spots. He’s improved his numbers this year in the jump from Double-A to Triple-A, and further improvements to his ability to get on base could push him to the majors as power hitting outfield option off the bench.
TOP PITCHER: Bubba Chandler, RHP – 1.17 ERA, 23 IP, 28:6 K/BB
The top prospect in the system opened his month of August in Double-A. Bubba Chandler made one final start at the level, allowing one run on three hits in seven innings, with no walks and seven strikeouts. The Pirates promoted him to Indianapolis the following week. Since moving up, Chandler has combined for a 1.17 ERA in four starts, with a 28:6 K/BB ratio. He’s only allowed runs in a single start, with his worst outing seeing three runs in five innings, with six strikeouts and one walk.
Chandler became the top prospect by default when Paul Skenes and Jared Jones lost their eligibilities. He’s improved his game this season, showing better control and swing and miss from his growing secondary options. He could get a look at the Major League level if he keeps this up over the final few weeks of the Triple-A season.
ALTOONA
TOP HITTER: Yoyner Fajardo, OF – .339/.480/.441, 4 SB, 2 2B, 2 3B
The Pirates signed Yoyner Fajardo earlier in the season to boost their depth in Altoona, and he’s consistently been one of the best hitters for the level. He hit .339/.480/.441 during the month of August, with four stolen bases and four extra base hits. Fajardo finished the month with an eight-game streak of reaching base, after starting the month with an eight-game hit streak.
Fajardo’s upside is likely to result in a return to Triple-A at some point, where he started his season in the Minnesota system. The Twins got him at the end of 2022 from the Pirates in the minor league portion of the Rule 5 draft. His upside would be an above-average player in Triple-A, with a chance to be emergency depth for a Major League team one day.
TOP PITCHER: Emmanuel Chapman, RHP – 1.64 ERA, 22 IP, 22:12 K/BB
Emmanuel Chapman moved into a swingman role during the month of August. He pitched 3-4 innings in all but one appearance, with three starts, one outing beginning in the second, and three outings happening after the fourth inning. He pitched 11 hitless innings to open the month, allowing eight walks and striking out 16. His final three outings led to a 3.27 ERA in 11 innings, with seven hits, four walks, and six strikeouts.
The Pirates signed Chapman over the offseason out of Cuba. The 25-year-old opened the season in Greensboro, and put up a 3.00 ERA in 18 innings in High-A to open the season. He has a 3.21 ERA in 53.1 innings with Altoona, with a 49:23 K/BB ratio. The Pirates have been gradually increasing his inning total, getting him up to 3+ innings consistently by the end of July. He’s looking like a guy who could at least be a Major League reliever one day.
GREENSBORO
TOP HITTER: Shawn Ross, C – .257/.386/.471, 3 HR, 4 2B, 1 3B, 5 SB
Shawn Ross leads the system in home runs with 22. Most of his production has come with an average below .200 and a low on-base percentage. His numbers in the month of August saw a decline in home run power, but an increase in extra base and on-base production. He also stole five bases.
The Pirates signed Ross as an undrafted free agent in December 2022. He’s been hitting for power the last two years in Greensboro, combining for 36 homers and 15 doubles in 572 plate appearances. In his age-24 season, Ross will see a power reduction in Double-A if he doesn’t widen his focus from hitting home runs. His numbers in August reflect an approach that could work in the upper levels, while still tapping into his plus power.
TOP PITCHER: Carlson Reed, RHP – 0.73 ERA, 24.2 IP, 29:9 K/BB
The Pirates promoted Carlson Reed to High-A at the end of July, following a 2.43 ERA in 77.2 innings with Bradenton, along with a 96:42 K/BB. Reed improved his results at the higher level during the month of August. He had an 0.73 ERA in 24.2 innings across five starts, with a 29:9 K/BB. He also gave up just ten hits during the month, finishing his performance with six no-hit innings.
Reed was drafted last year in the fourth round out of West Virginia. A reliever in college, the Pirates have converted him to a starter, and he’s now handling that assignment well at a second level. Greensboro will be in the playoffs starting next week, and that will give Reed some experience in a higher pressure situation, before he eventually moves up to Double-A.
BRADENTON
TOP HITTER: Jhonny Severino, INF – .250/.290/.489, 3 HR, 6 2B, 3 3B, 3 SB
After being one of the best hitters on the FCL Pirates this season, Jhonny Severino was promoted to Bradenton. In his first month at the level, Severino hit for power, with three homers, six doubles, and three triples. He also stole three bases.
Severino had a .291/.373/.545 line in 189 at-bats, with ten homers, 12 doubles, and 12 stolen bases. He’s already adding to the extra base hit total in High-A, though he’s been adjusting to getting on base and keeping strikeouts low. That’s been a trend for all hitters in Bradenton this season.
TOP PITCHER: Michael Kennedy, LHP – 2.33 ERA, 19.1 IP, 20:5 K/BB
Michael Kennedy returned from the injured list in August, and pitched well enough in his return to earn a promotion to Greensboro by the end of the year. In five appearances, Kennedy had a 2.33 ERA in 19.1 innings, with a 20:5 K/BB. Most of his damage came in a 1.1 inning relief outing. He had a 1.00 ERA in 18 innings as a starter, with 19 strikeouts.
Drafted out of high school in the fourth round in 2022, Kennedy has improved his stuff this season, with improvements to his slider and changeup to make those above-average offerings. His stuff has already begun to play in High-A. In his first start at the new level, he allowed one run on five hits in five innings, with one walk and five strikeouts.
2024 DRAFT PICKS
TOP HITTER: Duce Gourson, 2B – .222/.409/.315, 5 2B, 2 SB
Duce Gourson was drafted in the ninth round out of UCLA. He started his season in Bradenton, hitting .229/.438/.343 with four doubles and two steals in 35 at-bats. He was then moved up to High-A, where he’s hitting .227/.393/.273 into September. When drafted, Gourson was seen as a guy who could get on base, hit for extra-base gap power, and add some value on the bases. He’s shown that so far in the lower levels.
TOP PITCHER: Connor Wietgrefe, LHP – 8.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 9 K, 1 HR
The seventh round pick out of Minnesota, Connor Wietgrefe has moved into the Bradenton rotation for brief outings in his pro debut. He finished the month of August throwing three shutout innings. He allowed one hit in five shutout across his final two starts. The lefty hits 93-94 MPH with his fastball, along with a promising slider and changeup combo.
