Jhonny Severino was the Pirates Prospects Hitting Prospect of the Year for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2024.
The Pirates didn’t have many standout hitting prospects this year, and their biggest success story was traded at the deadline when Charles McAdoo was sent to Toronto for Isiah Kiner-Falefa. One year earlier, the Pirates traded Carlos Santana at the deadline to receive Severino.
In his first full season with the Pirates, Severino was sent to rookie ball, playing in the Florida Complex League in Bradenton. He hit for a .291 average, reaching base at a .373 rate across 220 plate appearances. In the pitcher friendly league, he hit ten homers and 12 doubles, while showing good plate patience. He added value on the bases with 12 steals, and handled third base and shortstop in the field.
The Pirates moved Severino up to Single-A at the end of the FCL season, and he continued showing power and speed. In 123 plate appearances, Severino hit six homers and stole four bases, giving him 16 and 16 on the season between the two levels. His strikeout rate doubled and his walk rate halved, with his average also dropping in the first look at A-ball.
Severino will get a full season in Bradenton in 2025 at the age of 20, with a chance to move up to Greensboro by the end of the season. His start at Single-A in 2024 was similar to his start in the FCL in 2023. Both were heavily focused on power, with a lower average and OBP. Severino could emerge as one of the top prospects in the system if he finds a way to hit in Single-A in 2025 like he did in the FCL in 2024.
Pittsburgh Pirates Minor League Hitters of the Year
Here were the best hitters at each level of the Pirates’ system in 2024:
Triple-A: Indianapolis – Matt Gorski, OF (.257/.319/.522, 23 HR, 15 SB, 389 AB)
Gorski hit 23 homers and stole 15 bases in his first full season at the Triple-A level. He also added 24 doubles. He didn’t get on base enough to be an option in the Majors, but he hit consistently enough to be one of the best options for Indianapolis throughout the season.
Double-A: Altoona – Yoyner Fajardo, OF (.300/.406/.373, 0 HR, 17 SB)
The Pirates signed Fajardo in June, after losing him about two years ago in the minor league Rule 5 draft. He became the most consistent hitter in the Altoona lineup, batting at the top with a .300 average and a .406 OBP. Fajardo also stole 17 bases and filled in as outfield depth.
High-A: Greensboro – Nick Cimillo, 1B (.293/.419/.619, 17 HR, 181 AB)
Cimillo brought the power in High-A this year, hitting 17 homers while also hitting for average and getting on base. While the home park in Greensboro is very power friendly, Cimillo was just as good on the road. He went to Altoona at the end of the season, seeing the power drop, but also seeing the strikeout rate drop.
Single-A: Bradenton – Esmerlyn Valdez, 1B (.226/.352/.464, 22 HR, 17 2B)
The Marauders had several three-outcome power hitters, and the best of them was Valdez. He hit 22 homers and 17 doubles this year, while walking at a 13.6% rate. That led to an .816 OPS, with Valdez also having a 30.6% strikeout rate. He should move up to Greensboro in 2025, looking to improve on his contact skills.
RK: FCL Pirates – Jhonny Severino, INF (.291/.373/.545, 10 HR, 12 SB)
Severino, the hitter of the year, also led the FCL. I wanted to also highlight Yordany De Los Santos, who hit .344/.407/.505 with five homers and 24 stolen bases, also in his age 19 season.
RK: DSL Pirates – Isaias Dipre, OF (.301/.441/.579, 8 HR, 6 SB)
Dipre returned from missing the 2023 season with an injury and was consistently the best power hitter in the Dominican. He homered eight times, stole six bases, hit for average, and reached base at a high rate.
Check back tomorrow for the Breakout Prospect of the Year.
