The Greensboro Grasshoppers were the only full-season team in the Pittsburgh Pirates minor league system to make the playoffs. After finishing the first half 39-26, Greensboro won their division, clinching a playoff spot for the end of the year. They ended up getting eliminated in the first round of a two round playoff.
On the player side, the Grasshoppers featured a lot of promising pitching, and a lot of raw power. The hitting had some disappointments, which was a trend throughout the system. Greensboro ranked second in the league in OPS, with some help from their hitter friendly home park. That factor led to a commanding lead in home runs, while also finishing last in doubles. They also had the second most strikeouts.
The team this year featured two of the top ten prospects in the system, along with four more of the top 20 prospects. That doesn’t count three talented prospects who were traded at the deadline, who spent time at the level in 2024. The Pirates traded from their pitching depth, but still have the next wave of pitching prospects emerging from this group.
Below are the hitter and pitcher of the year, the top 10 prospects at the level, notable performers, and the early 2025 outlook.
Greensboro Grasshoppers 2024 Top Performers
For the 2024 Greensboro Grasshoppers hitter and pitcher of the year, preference was given to performance over prospect status.
Hitter of the Year: Nick Cimillo, 1B – .293/.419/.619, 17 HR, 181 AB
When he was promoted to Altoona, Cimillo was leading Greensboro with 17 home runs. He led their hitters with a 1.038 OPS this year. Showing a breakout over his brief time at the level in 2023, Cimillo earned a promotion to Double-A at the end of the season. He didn’t maintain the monster numbers at the higher level, but still showed some power. The 24-year-old slugger will be tested next year with a full season of upper-level pitching.
Pitcher of the Year: Alessandro Ercolani, RHP – 3.29 ERA, 93:25 K/BB, 73.2 IP
At the start of the season, Ercolani was working out of the Greensboro rotation. The 20-year-old ended the year pitching in long relief, managing his innings increase. He put up a 3.29 ERA in 76.2 innings, with a 93:25 K/BB. Ercolani features a six pitch mix at a young age, with a lot of strikeout ability from his cutter, and the ability to hit mid-to-upper 90s. He should move to Altoona in 2025, and could move to the rotation full-time.
Greensboro Grasshoppers Top 10 Prospects
Below are the top ten prospects of the players who spent significant playing time at the High-A level this year.
- Termarr Johnson, INF – Entering the season as the top hitting prospect in the system, Johnson ran into a roadblock in High-A. He was struggling at the plate to start the season, before a turnaround in late May. Johnson hit well for two months, then started to fade a bit before a late surge and promotion to Double-A. He ended up hitting .238/.372/.385 with 13 homers and 20 steals in Greensboro, showing just flashes of the hitting ability that makes him a top prospect.
- Hunter Barco, LHP – Barco was drafted in the second round in 2022, but didn’t make his debut until late 2023 after recovering from Tommy John. This was his first full-season in pro ball, and he pitched great in High-A. Barco had a 3.34 ERA in 62 innings, with a 77:22 K/BB, before being promoted to Double-A. His season ended early with a shin injury, but Barco took steps forward with his velocity and secondary stuff. He ended the season with a 94 MPH fastball that touches 96, along with two above-average breaking pitches as part of a five pitch mix.
- Jack Brannigan, 3B – One of the best defensive infielders in the system, Brannigan has the chance to be a power hitting third baseman in the Majors. He missed some time this year with injuries, but had a .238/.344/.490 line with 18 homers and 15 doubles. His on-base ability was up and his strikeouts were down this year, after an adjustment to his swing and approach at the end of last season. He also stole 12 bases, showing added value. Brannigan could move up to Altoona in 2024, after a season and a half in High-A.
- Alessandro Ercolani, RHP – The pitcher of the year looked elite down the stretch in long relief, but has the pitch mix and projectability to be a starter. It will be interesting to see how the Pirates handle him next season. Ercolani could return to Greensboro and expand his innings to triple digits in his age 21 season. He could also move to Altoona and see if he can take on the innings challenge while taking on the challenge of upper-level hitters. Either way, by the end of the season he should be a guy to watch in the upper levels.
- Carlson Reed, RHP – After putting up a 2.43 ERA in 77.2 innings with Bradenton, the Pirates promoted Reed to Greensboro. He made six starts at the end of the year, with an 0.87 ERA in 31 innings, along with a 34:9 K/BB. He previously struck out 96 in Bradenton. Reed was a reliever for West Virginia in college, but made the move to the rotation this year. As the season progressed, he improved his control, while maximizing a pitch mix that includes at least three above-average offerings. He could get an aggressive push to Altoona next year, due to not having much of a challenge with his limited time in High-A.
- Lonnie White Jr., CF – Drafted in the third round as an over-slot prep player in 2021, White has missed a lot of time the last two seasons with injuries. This was meant to be his first full season in pro ball. He did miss a little time with an injury, but had 324 at-bats with Greensboro. His power stood out, with 14 homers and 10 doubles. The downside was his strikeout rate, at 39.8%, leading to a .167 average and a .275 on-base. White showed off his power this year, but will probably return to A-ball in 2025 to show if he can hit beyond hitting for power.
- Mitch Jebb, INF – The Pirates took Jebb in the second round in 2023 as a scrappy, speedy middle infielder with advanced contact skills. He showed off the speed this year, stealing 43 bases, and adding seven triples. He didn’t have much power, outside of extra bases. He started the year slow, with swing and miss issues, but improved his ability to get on base in the second half. Jebb needs a lot to go right to be a starter in the Majors, but could reach as a bench option.
- Nick Cimillo, 1B/C – The hitter of the year showed his power not only at home, but on the road. He improved over his results in a limited time with Greensboro in 2023, but didn’t carry the improvements to Double-A. This matches the career progression for Cimillo. If the trend holds, he will improve in Double-A next year, while struggling initially in Triple-A during the second half. He’s an interesting power bat to watch now that he’s being tested by more advanced pitching.
- Wilber Dotel, RHP – Dotel led the team in innings this year with 106.1, while having a rollercoaster year from a results standpoint. He’d have times where he would look like a shutdown starter, and more times where he would give up enough runs to lead to his 5.33 ERA on the season. Dotel has good stuff, with a fastball that can get in the upper 90s. He’s had control issues, and could benefit from another season in A-ball to iron out the walks and the 21 home runs allowed.
- J.P. Massey, RHP – One year ago, Massey pitched in the Future’s Game before being promoted to Greensboro. He pitched all season in Greensboro this year, having some control issues early in the season. The Pirates placed him on the Development List in June. He returned by the end of July, but didn’t have the best results as a starter. Massey has a starter’s mix of pitches, but none that stand out as a plus offering, which makes it more difficult to put up good results when his control isn’t working. His stuff gives him a shot at making the upper levels, even in a relief role.
Notable Performances
Greensboro had three players who were traded at the deadline. Charles McAdoo hit .336/.415/.561 before being moved up to Altoona. He played in Double-A for a few weeks, before being traded for Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Luis Peralta had an 0.60 ERA in 30 innings, with a 50:15 K/BB. He was also promoted to Altoona, then traded for Jalen Beeks in a questionable move. The final player on the move was Patrick Reilly, who struck out 108 in 88 innings, with a 3.38 ERA. The Pirates flipped him for Billy Cook.
Three players moved up to Altoona after doing well at this level. Emmanuel Chapman threw 18 innings with Greensboro, with a 3.00 ERA and a 23:6 K/BB. He pitched significantly more innings with Altoona the remainder of the year, after his early promotion. Dominic Perachi had a 2.08 ERA in 73.2 innings, with an 81:19 K/BB. He hasn’t carried that success to Double-A, but stepped up at big times for Greensboro’s rotation. Sammy Siani was one of the best hitters at the level, batting .324 with a .965 OPS and four homers in 71 at-bats, before an early promotion to Double-A.
Siani will be going to the Arizona Fall League this offseason. He will be joined by Johnson, as well as Greensboro players Derek Diamond and Geovanny Planchart. The right-handed Diamond had a 4.80 ERA in 95.2 innings out of the rotation this year, with an 83:19 K/BB. Planchart had a .675 OPS, but showed good defense behind the plate.
Shawn Ross led the team in home runs at the end of the year with 23. He didn’t do a lot beyond hitting home runs, with a .193 average and a .334 on-base percentage to round out his .793 OPS and three-outcomes profile.
P.J. Hilson was a minor league Rule 5 pickup last offseason. He was a leader and consistent producer on this team, hitting .257/.317/.443 with 13 homers and 14 stolen bases.
Garrett McMillan is an older pitcher for the level, but was promoted from Bradenton at the end of the season and was lights out. McMillan allowed one earned run in 21 innings, striking out 28 and walking four, before turning in a nice playoff performance.
The end of the season saw the promotion of Omar Alfonzo, who would have been a top prospect if he had more than 81 at-bats. Alfonzo hit five homers with a .371 OBP, continuing what he showed in Bradenton. That was surprising power, an ability to get on base, and the ability to play behind the plate. He should return to Greensboro in 2025.
Early 2025 Outlook
The Grasshoppers got an early preview of their 2025 team during their playoff run. The rotation will feature some of the more interesting young arms from Bradenton this year. Even if Carlson Reed and Alessandro Ercolani move up to Altoona, Greensboro will have some arms to watch. Carlos Jimenez and Antwone Kelly are two names to watch, with Jimenez making it up to Greensboro at the end of 2024.
The hitting will be led by a lot of international sluggers who hit for power from a three-outcomes profile. Alfonzo is the best of the group, trailed by Esmerlyn Valdez.
The 2024 draft could bring a few of the top ten round college players like third round LHP Josh Hartle, sixth round RHP Matt Ager, or fifth round OF Will Taylor. Ninth round INF Duce Gourson already arrived at the level at the end of 2024. Hartle and Taylor are the most significant potential additions.
