In the last three years since starting to cover the Pirates farm system on a more in-depth basis, I’ve been lucky to see some great pitching performances in person from some of the system’s top prospects.
I saw Roansy Contreras strike out eight batters over six shutout innings during the 2021 season in what was his fifth outing with the organization.
Last year I saw Luis Ortiz (4 IP, ER, 6 K), Mike Burrows (4 IP, 2 H, 6 K) and Kyle Nicolas (four perfects innings, 6 K) all pitch in a four day span.
Last night, I had a chance to see Jared Jones pitch six no-hit innings before a seventh inning home run break things up.
In my brief time going to minor league games, I know not many are there to actually watch the game, which is fine. There are times when a pitcher is dealing and gains interest from even the most disinterested.
Roansy had an incredible electric atmosphere to his outing, and by the end of it, everyone was gasping as he continually slung mid-90s fastballs by hitters over the course of his six innings.
On Thursday night, Jones got a very generous applause as he exited his game, from the home crowd as a visiting player.
Little preview of his outing, just the first inning. He strikes out the first two hitters he faces, hits a batter on a back foot slider before getting the third out by line out. #LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/zd4uiB8yd2
— Anthony Murphy (@__Murphy88) June 9, 2023
Jones has long had the stuff to be an elite prospect, his first professional pitch picked up at 99 mph on the radar gun with the Bradenton Marauders. In 229.1 career minor league innings, he has 286 strikeouts (28.7 K%), and that’s consistently being one of the youngest players at the level he’s pitched in over the last three seasons.
Control has been one of the biggest concerns for Jones, but he’s in the middle of another season in which his walk rate has dropped, and only issued one free pass on Thursday.
He mixed in a changeup on several occasions, getting a couple of called strike threes with it, showing his repertoire is still expanding. After hitting a batter trying to connect on a back foot slider in the first inning, he didn’t shy away from the pitch and threw it again later, getting a swing and miss the second time around.
Jones has always been an interesting prospect, as his fastball/slider combination always seemed to put him on a path to be a late innings reliever if the command never came around.
Now that it has, it creates an all new type of projection for him, and he gives the Pirates something that they don’t have a lot of in the majors right now.
A starting pitcher who not only throws in the upper 90s (they have those), but can also generate swing and miss with their fastball. When we’ve seen some of the rotation pitch, it’s generally been because their fastball has been too hittable.
While having a swing and miss fastball isn’t a say-all, be-all necessity, it eliminates a lot of other factors pitchers can’t control when the ball is put into play. It also continues to allow his other pitches to continue to play up more.
While Ortiz and Quinn Priester are the most ‘ready’ to pitch in the majors, it may be safe to say that Jones has slowly developed into the best pitching prospect in the system, giving the greatest mix of ceiling and floor that you could ask for from a young pitcher.
Daily Video Rundown
Abrahan Gutierrez with a double in the fourth inning, one of two hits Altoona came up with in the game on Thursday. #LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/Kl7n7uWXP4
— Anthony Murphy (@__Murphy88) June 9, 2023
Still fresh up from Greensboro (catcher gear is all green still), Abrahan Gutierrez is quickly making an impact with the bat, picking up one of the two hits on the day for the Altoona Curve, this one being a double.
Déjà vu, anyone?
Cal always gets it done. 😤 pic.twitter.com/bDvss6Q0uE
— Indianapolis Indians (@indyindians) June 9, 2023
Cal Mitchell is currently destroying baseballs right now.
Endy Rodríguez, doubles machine. 💪 pic.twitter.com/VUjZVvMMeY
— Indianapolis Indians (@indyindians) June 9, 2023
This guy has been pretty hot too as well, another double for Endy Rodriguez.
PIRATES PROSPECTS DAILY
By Tim Williams
Looking for the nightly Prospect Watch? Check out P2Live.
**P2Live: Strong Performances from Jared Jones and Thomas Harrington
John Dreker had a preview of the DSL Pirates. Check back on Friday for a look at the FCL Pirates roster.
**Pirates 2023 Minor League Previews: Dominican Summer League Pirates
The draft is a month away, and Baseball America has their latest mock draft.
**Latest Mock Draft from Baseball America
The Pirates retained some depth with Chris Owings getting outrighted to Indianapolis. They recently acquired Alika Williams, who has more long-term upside. If a need comes up, I’d rather see Williams get a shot this time around.
**Pirates Notebook: Chris Owings Sent Outright to Indianapolis, Chavez Young to Altoona
Missed yesterday? Anthony looked at what is next for the Pirates rotation after struggles from Roansy Contreras.
**What’s Next For The Pirates Rotation?
SONG OF THE DAY
This is one of my favorite modern day bands. I’m looking forward to their new album. If anyone needs me this afternoon, I’ll probably be listening to their Lollapalooza performance from 2018 on YouTube.
I’ve always liked JJ, amazing athlete and fierce competitor. He will definitely be a fan favorite. I’m glad he is getting results in AA, but the high-effort delivery and command are still concerning to me.
ELDC is doing some crazy things in his first few games up… which reminds of the oneil cruz treatment upon his first taste of the big leagues. Hoping that somehow having a fellow young and electric infielder in the central will light a fire under cruz to come back better than ever
I remember some highly touted outfielder named Polanco who tore it up for the first few weeks,
Whatever happened to him?
There was another pitcher who did well, also.
RHP Thomas Harrington
Game stats: 7.0 innings, two hits, no runs, no walks, eight strikeouts
Season stats: 0-0, 2.89 ERA, 3er/9.1ip, eight hits, no walks, 12 strikeouts, two appearances/two starts
Just got done going back and watching that. He was incredible. Bradenton seemed more pitch to contact, finesse type of pitcher.
He was blowing elevated fastballs past hitters last night. Not something I really saw in Bradenton to start the year but I like it.
I like it, too. 😁😁😁
But how’s their defense?
RF/C Henry Davis
Game stats: 2 for 5, one steal
Season stats: .300/.417/.500, one triple, one RBI, one steal, three games
C Endy Rodriguez
Game stats: 1 for 3, one double two RBIs
Season stats: .253/.344/.404, seven doubles, three triples, four home runs, 19 RBIs, four steals, 41 games
Please, Please, Please, stay healthy Jared!!!
This is the point if my comment yesterday. He should be given a chance in the majors now. Atlanta does it. Cincy just did it. Seattle two different pitchers. All jumped from AA at a 22 or younger age.
Throw the bullets you have in the games that count. Injury is assured and he may never make the majors if so. So tired of the “timeline” crap for pitching prospects.
Better than Bido or Priester? Only one way to find out.
Just saw a stat: Pirates have only used 6 starting pitchers all season, trailing only the Blue Jays at 5. Really impressive, especially since not many appealing depth options at Indy outside of Priester or maybe Bido
If they have to use Option #7 , they could be screwed?
Thanks for the review – great game by Jared Jones. My question as soon as I looked at the box score was why was Jones out there to pitch the 7th? I hear the no-hitter, but in his previous 8 Starts, the highest number of pitches thrown has been 80 pitches, and he had only gone 6 innings in one Start. After 6 IP last night he was already at 83 or 84 pitches. Hard to make sense with that managerial decision
Have you had a chance to watch LHP Omar Cruz at Altoona? His work has been very limited so far – is he still a work in progress or has he hit the wall?
If I remember correctly he was a tad under 80 going into the 7th, but I could definitely be wrong. Yea I was shocked to see him come back out for the 7th, but 89 pitches over 6.1 innings isn’t bad. Liked they tried to stretch him out a bit. They’ve been really cautious with him for most of the season.
As far as Cruz, haven’t had a chance to watch him this year, he was on the development list to start the season. Can’t imagine they see him as anything more as depth now.
He had three starts at the beginning of the season where he threw 70+ pitches, then he went 3 more Starts where he only threw 37, 54, and 56 pitches, even though he seemed to be doing well in those starts. In his 7th Start he went 4.1 IP/73 pitches, and then in the 8th start he went 6 IP/80 pitches. Going into last night, he had only thrown 34 innings in 8 Starts, so it was shocking they were pushing it by allowing him to go out for the 7th.
Regardless of the level, it is all developmental with a kid who is still only 21 and throwing upper 90’s. He threw 122 innings at A+ which was a bunch – hope he can stay right around 100 in AA, and then possibly expand the number of innings at AAA where he should start as a 22 year old.
“it may be safe to say that Jones has slowly developed into the best pitching prospect in the system”
Jones, Harrington, and Solomento are all dealing this season. Since Jones is doing it vs the better competition, then I would have to agree with you.
At the very least he looks ready for AAA when an opening occurs. Wishful thinking to consider Pirates would skip him over AAA unfortunately.
Jones is performing worse than Priester did in AA last year with half the repertoire and worse command.
Let’s not get too indignant, my man.
There you go pissing on my cornflakes again.
Switch to Cheerios?
Outside of Priester and Burrows who is on the IL I see many openings for Jones at Indy!
It will be interesting to see how they move him. His season giving me Roansy 2021 vibes. Feel like Ro woulda been in AAA sooner than he did if not for his injury.
Could see a similar timeline where Jones makes his debut at end of season, especially if the Pirates fall out of contention.
Now, if only we could figure out what is wrong with RC.
I haven’t heard “tired arm syndrome” lately – at one time that was the go-to for problems that could not be linked to physical issues. Might be the same issue with Ortiz.
And Priester?
Just a different type of pitcher. Big, strong, but more of a finesse pitcher. Seems to have an uncanny grasp on the “how to” at a very young age.