Pittsburgh Review

The Pirates’ Top 30 Prospects list has undergone significant changes since the preseason. Expected developments, such as Paul Skenes and Jared Jones advancing from their Top 100 status to join the rotation core, contributed to these shifts. Additionally, the Trade Deadline saw the team trading players and adjusting their pitching depth for batting talent at both Major and Minor League levels.

"A general goal over time is to try to move some pitching talent into position-player talent," general manager Ben Cherington stated after the Trade Deadline. "That didn’t have to come through one deal specifically, but we were able to start doing some of that this Deadline."

As a result, the team's prospect rankings now feature new draft picks and fresh faces. The current top prospects include:

- Bubba Chandler, RHP (No. 41 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100)

- Konnor Griffin, SS (No. 55)

- Termarr Johnson, 2B/SS (No. 84)

- Braxton Ashcraft, RHP (No. 96)

- Thomas Harrington, RHP

Significant rank changes among players include Tony Blanco Jr., who jumped from being unranked in the preseason to No. 20 midseason. Blanco received a $900,000 bonus in January 2022 and has shown promise in the Florida Complex League with a .305 average and an .890 OPS in 30 games.

Conversely, Jase Bowen fell from No. 21 in the preseason to being unranked midseason. After a strong performance with High-A Greensboro in 2023, his struggles at Double-A Altoona have continued this year with a .239 average and five home runs.

New additions to the Top 30 list include:

- Konnor Griffin, SS (No. 9 pick in the 2024 Draft) at No. 2

- Nick Yorke, 2B (acquired from Red Sox) at No. 6

- Wyatt Sanford, SS (No. 47 pick in the 2024 Draft) at No.10

- Levi Sterling, RHP (No.37 pick in the Draft) at No.11

- Josh Hartle LHP (No.83 pick) at No17.

- Matt Ager RHP(No174pick)at23

- Billy Cook OF/2B(acquired from Orioles)at24

The players are evaluated using a scouting scale ranging from well below average (20–30) to well above average (70–80). Notable grades include:

Hit: Mitch Jebb –55

Power: Konnor Griffin –60

Run: Lonnie White –70

Arm: Konnor Griffin –70

Defense: Wyatt Sanford –60

Fastball: Bubba Chandler –60

Curveball: Levi Sterling –60

Slider: Hunter Barco –60

Changeup: Carlson Reed –60

Control: Thomas Harrington -55