The FCL Pirates were one of the best teams in the Florida Complex League this year. They finished with a 36-23 record, winning the South Division, but getting swept in the FCL Championship.
From a prospect standpoint, this team had some high-end talent. There was one top ten prospect, one just outside of the top ten, two inside the top 25, and three more inside the top 50.
The depth of upside wasn’t as strong. While the top of this team was stacked with talent, there weren’t a lot of high-upside guys beyond the top ten who project well in the long-term.
Below are the hitter and pitcher of the year, the top 10 prospects at the level, notable performers, and the early 2025 outlook.
FCL Pirates 2024 Top Performers
For the 2024 FCL Pirates hitter and pitcher of the year, preference was given to performance over prospect status.
Hitter of the Year: Jhonny Severino, INF – .291/.373/.545, 10 HR, 12 SB
The Pirates acquired Severino last year at the trade deadline for Carlos Santana. He played 15 games in rookie ball last season, showing some promise with power and speed from the middle infield. He went to the FCL for the entire 2024 season, and was the best hitter for the Pirates. He led qualified players in OPS, while hitting twice as many home runs as the second best team result. Severino also hit 12 doubles and stole 12 bases.
Pitcher of the Year: Zander Mueth, RHP – 1.58 ERA, 56:26 K/BB, 51.1 IP
Mueth was drafted 67th overall in 2023, and made his pro debut this year in the FCL. He was slowly built up at the start of the year, but quickly settled in as a lights out starter throwing five innings with no more than one run every time out. That stretch lasted six games for Mueth, leading to his team-leading ERA in his team-leading innings pitched. He was promoted to Bradenton at the end of the season, adding another 22.2 innings to his season total.
FCL Pirates Top 10 Prospects
Below are the top ten prospects of the players who spent significant playing time in the FCL this year.
- Zander Mueth, RHP – With nearly 75 innings pitched this year, not counting any innings before or after the regular season, Mueth is set up well for full-season ball. He should get a chance to expand his innings in the Bradenton rotation in 2025. He’s got a fastball that sits mid-90s, getting up to 97, and thrown from a low three quarters arm slot. He also has quality secondary stuff, with swing and miss potential. He’ll need to work through some mechanical issues to iron out control problems, but Mueth is a top ten prospect in this system, and one of the best to watch in the lower levels next year.
- Jhonny Severino, INF – The Pirates sent Severino to Bradenton at the end of the season, and he continued hitting for power. He ended the year with 16 homers and 16 stolen bases between the two levels. He should return to Bradenton in 2025, as his average and on-base dropped in his time at the level this year. He could make it to Greensboro by the second half with improvements at the plate. Long-term, Severino has value as a power/speed third baseman.
- David Matoma, RHP – Signed out of Uganda, which isn’t known for baseball, Matoma has emerged as a hard-throwing reliever in the lower levels. The Pirates were cautious with him in his age 18 season, working him as a reliever in the FCL. He threw 22 innings in 15 appearances, and was lights out. Matoma had an 0.82 ERA and 28 strikeouts in his innings. His fastball can reach triple digits, and he has a plus slider that he pairs with the plus heater. Matoma has pitched 38.2 innings in his pro career across two seasons, so expect him to progress his innings slowly in A-ball next year.
- Yordany De Los Santos, INF – De Los Santos was aggressively pushed to Single-A at the age of 18, and it didn’t go well. He was sent down to the FCL and hit for an .860 OPS. De Los Santos returned to the FCL this year, and showed improvements across the board. He hit .344/.407/.505 with 24 stolen bases, five homers, eight doubles, and four triples. The Pirates sent him back to Single-A at the end of the season. His results were the same as last year, though he did steal ten bases in ten attempts, giving him 34 in 40 attempts on the season. De Los Santos can play shortstop, with plus speed on the bases, and an approach that gets him on base. He’s a lower level guy to watch for Bradenton next year.
- Estuar Suero, OF – The Pirates acquired Suero last year at the trade deadline in the Rich Hill/Ji Man Choi deal. He’s a 6′ 6″ outfielder with a projectable frame, and 2024 was his age 18 season. He dealt with injuries, and was limited to 75 plate appearances. His results were also poor, with a high strikeout rate, and very little of the plus raw power he’s capable of producing. Suero could return to the FCL next year for more work. He’s very talented, but very raw.
- Carlos Castillo, RHP – At the age of 18, Castillo was in his second pro season. He made it up to Single-A by the end of the year, but not before putting up a 2.86 ERA in 34.2 innings in the FCL. This follows a 1.70 ERA in 37 innings in the DSL. Castillo got a look in Bradenton at the end of the season. He didn’t pitch as well as he did in rookie ball, and doesn’t have a standout pitch like the previous pitchers on this list. He will be a guy to watch in 2025, to see if he can repeat his rookie level success on the mound.
- Tony Blanco Jr., DH – The 6′ 7″, 243 pound 19-year-old has an obvious frame for plus raw power. Blanco showed some of that this year, hitting four homers and five doubles in 95 at-bats in the FCL. His large frame also limits him to first base or the DH role, but his power projection gives him a chance to stick at those spots long-term. Blanco will need to watch the strikeouts, but he could be one of the rare power hitters from the lower levels who doesn’t completely sacrifice average and on-base to get the results.
- Carlos Caro, 2B – In his first two years in pro ball, Caro has done nothing but hit. He had a .944 OPS in the DSL in 2023, which was followed with a promotion to the FCL this year. He hit .305/.410/.443 with two homers and nine stolen bases, earning a promotion to Bradenton late in the season. He should start in Single-A in 2025, and will give his hitting skills a test in full-season ball.
- Richard Ramirez, C – One of the best surprises this year was Ramirez, who had an .838 OPS with five homers in his first season in the FCL. Ramirez didn’t have a great debut in the DSL in 2022, but improved to an .837 OPS last year, with five homers. He replicated those numbers in his jump to the FCL. The questions going forward are whether he can stick behind the plate, and whether he can maintain this hitting as he moves up. He should get a test next year in a move to Bradenton.
- Clevari Tejada, RHP – Tejada is an interesting situation. He pitched out of the bullpen early in the season, before getting expanded innings with better results in June and July. He moved to the rotation, and pitched 5.2 shutout innings in his final start of the season, allowing one hit. The Pirates moved him up to Bradenton, and he had a 3.60 ERA in 25 innings, with an 18:16 K/BB. He should return to the Bradenton bullpen, working off a sinker/slider approach. He does have the potential to start, due to a six pitch mix at the age of 20.
Notable Performances
There was one player from this level who was traded. Jun Seok Shim was dealt to the Marlins in the Bryan De La Cruz deal, despite being on the injured list all season for the Pirates.
Two players got a quick push to Bradenton and never returned. Keiner Delgado played one game after being acquired for JT Brubaker. He homered, was promoted to Single-A, and stole 25 bases at the higher level. Axiel Plaz played 19 at-bats with a .531 OPS, before being promoted to Bradenton as depth in mid-May. He hit homers in his first two games, and didn’t look back, finishing the year with 15.
Miguel Sosa hit for an .802 OPS in his second season in the FCL, after a .901 OPS last year. He was promoted to Bradenton, where he had a .670 OPS in 55 at-bats.
Luke Scherrer is a 19-year-old catcher who hit .273/.406/.345 with eight doubles this year. He showed a good ability to get on base, and spent a lot of time behind the plate. He should get a push to Bradenton in 2025, and will need to improve his power production in order to move higher than A-ball.
Early 2025 Outlook
The FCL Pirates should benefit from the prep-heavy approach of the 2024 draft. I would expect first rounder Konnor Griffin to go to Single-A, but this level could be open for RHP Levi Sterling and infielders Wyatt Sanford and Eddie Rynders, who were all taken in the top four rounds this year.
There are several players expected to get promoted from the DSL, including several top performing hitters from this year’s teams. The 2025 group could be promising offensively, with a few arms to keep an eye on.
The Pirates need to rebuild their farm system with upside, and the 2025 FCL Pirates will be a big team to watch toward that progress.
