|
ANTHONY SOLOMETO, LEFT HANDED PITCHER
|
| Born: December 12, 2002 Height: 6’5″ Weight: 218 Bats: Left Throws: Left Drafted: Round 2, 37th Overall, 2021 How Acquired: Draft High School: Bishop Eustace Prep (Pennsauken, NJ) Agent: N/A |
WTM’s PLAYER PROFILE |
| Solometo is a tall lefty with a funky delivery that adds deception, but gives some scouts concern about his command. It’s also going to create challenges for him in holding runners. Solometo throws his fastball 89-93 mph, sometimes getting into the mid-90s. At a showcase before the draft, he was throwing 94-97. His slider is good but needs more consistency, and like most prep pitchers he needs to work more on his change. All three, though, could become plus pitches. His command has mostly been good, which resulted in him shooting up draft boards during 2021. Baseball America had him ranked 28th among draft prospects, MLB Pipeline 17th. He has a commitment to North Carolina. The Pirates signed Solometo for $2.8M, well above the slot value of $1,999,300.
2021 Solometo didn’t appear in any games after signing, as the Pirates held all of their prep pitching draftees and some of the college pitchers out (apart from Bubba Chandler appearing as a hitter). 2022 Solometo skipped rookie ball altogether as the Pirates sent him to Bradenton in late May. The move worked out, as Solometo put up impressive numbers there, including an opponents’ batting line of 188/287/273. When he had trouble, it was generally because his command faltered and his pitch counts ran high, but it usually wasn’t an issue. In his first game, opponents ran wild, stealing four bases in five tries. In his other twelve, they stole just one out of four. Of course, opponents can’t steal if they’re not on base, which they weren’t much when he pitched. Solometo will move up to Greensboro in 2023 and will have a chance to establish himself as a top pitching prospect. |
|
CONTRACT INFORMATION
|
| 2023: Minor league salary |
|
PLAYER INFORMATION
|
| Signing Bonus: $2,800,000 MiLB Debut: 2022 MLB Debut: MiLB FA Eligible: 2027 MLB FA Eligible: Rule 5 Eligible: 2025 Added to 40-Man: Options Remaining: 3 MLB Service Time: 0.000 |
|
TRANSACTIONS
|
| July 12, 2021: Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2nd round, 37th overall pick; signed on July 20. |
