The Pittsburgh Pirates are next on our Players Likely to Debut series. In case you missed it, we have already rolled out over half the league.
AL East: Red Sox — Yankees — Orioles — Blue Jays — Rays
NL East: Marlins — Braves — Phillies — Mets—Nationals
AL Central: Tigers — Royals — White Sox—Twins—Cleveland
Below, you will find a list of three prospects from the respective organization. Each prospect will have a number score next to their name — this number will represent the estimated amount of time we anticipate that player seeing at the big-league level. Players that have already made their big-league debut will not be included on this list.
BREAKDOWN OF TIME ON ROSTER SCORES:
1 — September call-ups / guys that are likely to see less than 20-25 games on the roster
2 — 1/4 of the season (roughly 40 games on roster)
3 — 1/2 of the season (roughly 80 games on roster)
4 — 3/4 of the season (roughly 120 games on roster)
5 — Full season on the MLB roster
Pittsburgh Pirates
Position — Name (Time on Roster Score)
SS Oneil Cruz (1)
He is among one of the top 10 shortstop prospects with a grade 70 arm and above-average bat speed. His swing is so smooth and effortless and the potential to be an impactful regular for the Pirates on the left side of the infield with Ke’Bryan Hayes. Cruz’s height — 6’7” — at shortstop would make him the tallest ever to play the position. However, it’s possible a shift to right field is possible where he can show off his plus plus arm. With the type of bat Cruz has, it is pretty easy to assume they will find somewhere to place him.
RHP-Luis Oviedo (5)
Ovideo was acquired as a Rule 5 pick from the Mets after New York selected him from Cleveland. Rule 5 picks can easily go back to their teams but with the Pirates needing as many healthy arms as possible and the next wave of arms not ready until next year, Oviedo could see some action either out of the bullpen in long relief or making some spot starts.
As our Joe Drake mentioned in Oviedo’s write up in our Pirates 2021 List, he has been throwing in the high-90s over the winter with improved command. He throws four different pitches with his fastball and slider being his two best, thus the reliever risk.
RHP-Roansy Contreras (2)
One of the names that came over in the Jameson Taillon deal to the Yankees, I mentioned him before as possibly getting a cup of coffee for the Yankees towards the end of the season and I see this as a possibility for the Pirates.
Matt Thompson did a great summary of his 60-grade fastball and a 50-grade curve in addition to throwing a change and a slider. With his above-average command and control and a spot on the 40-man roster, Contreras could see a spot start or two if a Pirates pitcher goes down to injury.
Notes
Prospects Rodolfo Castro, Ji-Hwan Bae, and last year’s 7th pick overall Nick Gonzales have given the Pirates some good depth in the minors. Those three names should be making their debuts sometime in the next year.
Another arm to watch rise through the system this year is Quinn Priester.