Baseball is back! After a seemingly endless offseason, we finally have players making their way back to Bradenton for Spring Training. Pitchers and catchers reported earlier in the week, but there has been plenty of action going on before that.
Last year we launched the Pirates Daily Video Rundown to capture all of the latest videos on the Pirates and their prospects. Here’s a look at some of the early videos.
Oneil Cruz
After hitting 17 home runs in his rookie year, Cruz mentioned his goal of a potential 30/30 or 40/40 season this week. He has the toolset to do about anything on the field he wants, and is already crushing the baseball early on.
— Alex Stumpf (@AlexJStumpf) February 15, 2023
Yordany De Los Santos
One of the Pirates prized International signings from a year ago, De Los Santos had a solid season in the DSL in 2022. At 18-years-old, he could be headed to the FCL this year.
Got a flat tire but still doesn’t slow us down. We posted the afternoon session on IG incl SS prospect Yordany De Los Santos in the cage getting that swing just right #athlete pic.twitter.com/5aShyFzWtn
— Florida Prospect Report (@FLProspectPod) February 15, 2023
Axiel Plaz
At just 16-years-old, Plaz slugged over .700 in the DSL last year. While he may not quite make the jump stateside just yet, he will certainly be a player to watch and find out if he can come close to repeating his success from a year ago.
C prospect Axiel Plaz checks in with a couple of bombs too pic.twitter.com/QjRWl3dIMF
— Florida Prospect Report (@FLProspectPod) February 8, 2023
Quinn Priester Bullpen
A good extended look of a bullpen session featuring Quinn Priester and Vince Velasquez, with a cameo from Colin Selby.
You like bullpens? Here's Quinn Priester and Vince Velasquez throwing, as well as Henry Davis and Endy Rodriguez catching. pic.twitter.com/9T9gvrR7xT
— Justice delos Santos (@justdelossantos) February 16, 2023
Anthony began writing over 10 years ago, starting a personal blog to cover the 2011 MLB draft, where the Pirates selected first overall. After bouncing around many websites covering hockey, he refocused his attention to baseball, his first love when it comes to sports. He eventually found himself here at Pirates Prospects in late 2021, where he covers the team’s four full season minor league affiliates.
Plaz is a brick shit house. That dude looks like he should be playing for the Steelers. Don’t think I realized how big he is
I was bot expecting Plaz to be so large for his age.
The power potential with Plaz seems for real. Not only because of his build at a young age but that’s a smooth weight transfer through his swing and he explodes on the ball. Still a ton of time, work and development left ahead of him but very encouraging early returns.
Plaz looks like he has the build of a pit bull.
If I were BC, I’d get on my hands and knees and beg Bob to let me offer Cruz a legitimate (Wander Franco type) long-term extension before he puts together a 30/30 or 40/40 or 50/50 season.
Losing Reynolds would sting. Losing Cruz one day is going to be like when the Red Sox lost Babe Ruth. Players with his skills only come around once a generation or two..or three…or never!
I don’t believe Cruz has ever shown the makeup that tells us he will put in the amount of work required to reach his potential without the money carrot in front of him. I could be wrong, but i just don’t see it being wise with him.
You’re basing this opinion on what exactly? The fact he resisted management’s decision to move him to the OF? A position far less valuable, which would potentially cost him tens of millions of dollars.
wish Tony Pena was in camp coaching those two dudes
They look pretty good for the first or second day, but the differences between them is huge. The Catcher on the left is smooth and low. The Catcher on the right is stiff and overly mechanical.
I think I was watching Axiel Plaz, possibly the youngest player in camp. He looks VG. Not sure what the catcher situation will look like at FCL, but he should definitely be under consideration. Only about 80+ PA, but solid BB/K numbers of 13/16.
Do the Pirates still invite Manny Sanguillen to participate in ST? He could impart some knowledge on the defensive aspects of the position. Just don’t let him talk to them about strike zone awareness. Manny definitely subscribed to the belief “you don’t walk your way off the island!”
Not sure, but his health might not be great. His knees are totally shot and he has other problems. I talked to him a little at PC once and things didn’t sound great. And that was 4-5 years ago.
even with the canal thing, Panama is not an island
Your comment makes me think of another common saying, “can’t see the forest for the trees.”
That whole team believed that you can’t walk off the usland.
That tended to work better when they didn’t strike out as much. Manny never struck out more than 50 times in a season. Neither did Bill Madlock. Parker only reached 100 a couple times. Even Willie Stargell didn’t go much over 100, only going over 130 once (154 in 1971).
The great Clemente only struck out 100 times twice – but he also had 200 hits in both those seasons. Players aren’t generally even allowed to bat as much as he did in those seasons because they supposedly need rest days to stay fresh. Funny how a man in constant pain throughout much of his career had over 600 AB three times!