Step one of a fresh build is to stockpile the minor leagues with as many prospects as possible, and start developing them into majors leaguers.
As they start stockpiling talent, attention is turned to how best to utilize the overflow that starts happen.
This offseason that was a big focus by Ben Cherington, making three key trades for prospects at positions of depth that has really helped the major league team.
Pitching is starting to look like a real strength of the system, with strong starts to the season all over. So, it’s less of a surprise that they dipped into that depth during the offseason to bring in more immediate help.
The Pirates traded Nick Garcia, Jack Hartmann and Ricky DeVito — all drafted by Cherington — and landed Connor Joe, Ji-Man Choi, and Mark Mathias.
All three have made an immediate impact for the team currently with the best record in the National League.
Joe, who was originally drafted by the Pirates under Neal Huntington, is playing far beyond an expected platoon player, hitting righties respectfully well, while doing his usually mashing against lefties.
Connor Joe bomb
Choi is hurt currently, but is a veteran presence from a Tampa Bay team that is no stranger to success. Mathias is a versatile fielder who picked up four hits in a game.
Not every prospect is going to play for the team that drafted/developed them, so it’s up to the general manager to optimize what he has to make the major league roster better.
Cherington saw an opportunity this year to surround his young players with some more experienced players, and did so without having to let go of any of their top prospects.
Andrew McCutchen and Carlos Santana may get most of the headlines, for just cause, but Joe has been just as much a playmaker for the Pirates and has come up big when the opportunity has presented itself.
If the picture wasn’t clear before, everything is starting to come together for Cherington right now, and it’s showing where it matters the most — the win column.
Prospect Notes
— Quinn Priester was going toe-to-toe with another top pitching prospect, Gavin Williams, until the fifth inning where the wheels started to fall off. Known for having one of the best curveballs in the minors, Priester hasn’t thrown the pitch much, focusing on his other offerings, especially the slider.
With what we’ve seen from Johan Oviedo and Roansy Contreras in the majors, Priester could follow the same path with a focus on breaking stuff and have his fastball more of a secondary offering.
— Weekly reminder that I had written that no one may benefit from making the jump from High-A to Double-A than Sean Sullivan. After being eased back in his first two starts, the righty tossed five shutout innings, striking out six.
In three starts this year, he hasn’t allowed an earned run yet. A lot of draft outlets loved the Sullivan pick for the Pirates in 2021, and he’s starting to make steps towards fulfilling that hype.
— Speaking of pitchers who haven’t allowed a run yet this season, Ryan Harbin pitched his fifth straight scoreless relief appearance on Thursday. He’s struck out eight over 7.1 innings, allowing just three hits. He also hit 97 mph in one of his earlier outings.
Daily Video Rundown
3 K's in 3 scoreless innings for @Sean_Sully1719!
LISTEN: https://t.co/aioWvW3Svf pic.twitter.com/zpx7iihO4l
— Altoona Curve (@AltoonaCurve) April 27, 2023
One of six strikeouts on the day for Sullivan across his five shutout innings.
A look at Jared Jones’ latest start. He didn’t walk anyone over five innings, but went on the injured list afterwards with lower back muscle spasms.
Pirates Prospects Daily
By Tim Williams
Pirates Recap: Pirates Win Series Against Dodgers, Move to Ten Over .500
Prospect Watch: Sean Sullivan Throws Five Shutout Innings
**Dick Groat Passes Away at 92 Years Old
**Minor Moves: Nick Gonzales Placed on the Injured List
**Mike Burrows Has Tommy John Surgery; Endy Rodriguez Could Return Soon
Song of the Day
