Welcome to the Pirates Prospects daily video rundown, where we pull some of the top videos of the Pittsburgh Pirates across the internet.
Ji-Man Choi
The Pirates bats have been quiet for the better part of the spring, but they livened up a bit to a tune of three total home runs. Choi started the scoring off, hitting this two-run home run in the first inning.
Ji Man Choi's first as a Bucco! 💥 pic.twitter.com/IjAQYhSfkU
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) March 17, 2023
Canaan Smith-Njigba
While he may be a casualty of the amount of players at the position, Smith-Njigba is really starting to hit the ball well. He hit his second home run in his past three games on Friday, going deep off of Luis Patino.
Canaan Smith-Njigba does it again.
Second homer in the past three games for the @Pirates' No. 28 prospect. pic.twitter.com/6GPAkghC6x
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) March 17, 2023
Mason Martin
There are very few players that can match the power that Martin has. It has always been if he could make enough contact. He got to flex that power on Friday, hitting a monster shot to center field.
Mason Martin just casually dropping a homer on top of the batter's eye in dead center pic.twitter.com/hrk3QrETJy
— Casey Drottar (@CDrottar19) March 17, 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.
Just a comment a little off topic about the Pirates. It seems to me we do lack power, but our offensive strength should be our speed, We have plenty of guys that can be a threat on the bases (Bae, Cruz, Castro, Hayes, Swaggerty, Marcano, even Cutch and a few young guys that can be a call up). The new rules should work in our favor, however we play more of a style where we strike out and swing for the fences. Am I wrong, or shouldn’t we be trying to get on base more and move runners over? Someone help me out here.
I just don’t think it’s that simple; to me pitchers need given far more credit than this, it’s just really effin hard to make quality contact anymore.
I do not think many of their bats are actively making choices to sell out for power, and they seem to be making intentional choices to target contact and OBP in player acquisitions.
You either accept Kevin Newman (high contact no power), get blessed with Jaun Soto (high contact high power), or end up with a bunch of guys who are probably gonna strike out a lot regardless.
To support your point, I had a former college player tell me he could spray the ball where he wanted….as long as the pitch wasn’t faster than 84 miles an hour. Otherwise he had to guess and start his swing early. I would think major leaguers have their own magic number as well higher than 84, but less than what some of these big relievers are throwing.
If these guys are even thinking when the pitcher starts his windup, they’re toast. At the pro-level, the subconscious mind takes over; see ball, hit ball.
Just when I was ready to give up on Martin, I see that swing and have visions of Pedro dancing through my head. Wish we had Statcast reading on that mammoth shot.
If only Mason could sacrifice some of that power for more consistent contact. Still, that was an absolute bomb. Off topic but SEC play started. Crews went 2-3 with a single, a laser beam over the right fielder’s head for a double, 2 BBs and 3 runs scored. Skenes looked like a monster, 6.1 giving up 4 hits and 11 Ks, no walks I believe. He’s down right filthy, a bit cocky but undeniably good
Crews looks so good. I’m trying to be open minded just because I don’t want to leave any stone unturned, but he just keeps delivering. Skenes is really good, and they talking he might be on a Strasburg level of a prospect, but I don’t think I can pass up the everyday impact bat like that.
I’m right there with ya. He’s so comfortable in the box and when he actually gets pitches to hit, he smashes it. I’ve watched a majority of there games so far, he seems to cover CF just fine with a good arm as well. Fun team to keep track of
Can’t argue with either of you guys, but I’d be friggin stoked right now to have the #2 pick and end up with Skenes without the stress of having passed on Crews.
No doubt, but I honestly would be ok taking Skenes. Prefer Crews but wouldn’t be upset whatsoever with the big horse
Not a bit.
Yeah if Martin and Suwinski could knock down their k’s by a decent percentage the Pirates would be a real threat.