It was clear before watching him play, but it didn’t really click until I sat behind home plate for the Altoona/Richmond game a couple of weeks ago: Matt Gorski is a giant human being.
Gorski photoed above by David Hague.
Listed at 6’4″, 220 pounds on his MiLB player page, Gorski is build almost like someone who should be chasing down quarterbacks on Sundays, but instead is shagging fly balls on a daily basis on Altoona right now.
On Wednesday night, he fielded ground balls at second base for the first time in his professional career.
I was always amazed by how well Gorski moved in center field, especially for his size. He’s made some great plays while playing first base as well. He can now throw this double play into his resume.
DP started by @matthew_gorski7?
Sure, DP started by @matthew_gorski7 pic.twitter.com/YkNO5OR80n
— Altoona Curve (@AltoonaCurve) May 31, 2023
Gorski has some of the loudest tools in the system. A home run derby between him and Mason Martin would be quite a site to behold, but it’s little stuff like this that really shows what he is capable of.
The strikeouts are still getting the better of him, but when he gets ahold of one, it’s still one of the best displays of power you can see.
This man, @matthew_gorski7 can truly do it all. pic.twitter.com/APnIwEGflZ
— Altoona Curve (@AltoonaCurve) May 31, 2023
Gorski really burst onto the scene last year and showed what he was capable of when everything was clicking.
He has a long way to get back to that kind of production, but it’s little things like switching to a new position in the middle of a game, and then launching a home run to center field, that reminds you of what he can do.
Prospect Notes
— Endy Rodriguez picked up a triple Wednesday night, two days after picking up four hits. It’s been a rough start to the season, even though he’s shown signs, but this may be a sign the bat is coming around.
— For the third straight start, Anthony Solometo completed at least six full innings in a start. In those outings he’s allowed just nine hits, two runs and three walks, while striking out 17 (across 19 innings pitched).
It’s worth saying, again, he’s just 20-years-old pitching in High-A, a very hitter friendly league for that matter as well.
— It seems like for every two steps Termarr Johnson has taken forward, it’s been at least another back so far this year. He’s hitting the ball with authority, but the strike outs are still there. The walk rate has been incredible, but he also went down on strikes two more times on Wednesday.
For how hyped his hit tool is, it should also be noted that he’s still 18-years-old, having a June birthday. There will probably be struggles as he keeps trying to find his footing.
Daily Video Rundown
K-Nic counter is up to 8! @kylenicolas19 has 6 scoreless innings tonight! pic.twitter.com/QTKPy5bSae
— Altoona Curve (@AltoonaCurve) May 31, 2023
Six shutout innings where he strikes out eight while walking only one and allowing two hits. Those are the kind of things you want to see out of Kyle Nicolas.
Safe to say the feathers are ruffled early. 👀 pic.twitter.com/YXuQLEdMYi
— Indianapolis Indians (@indyindians) June 1, 2023
Nick Gonzales is the kind of prospect that can ruin a night where he hit a grand slam by striking out three times as well, which he did on Wednesday.
Tsung-Che Cheng absolutely DESTROYED this one. His seventh of the season #LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/9rRj4d3DXA
— Anthony Murphy (@__Murphy88) May 31, 2023
Tsung-Che Cheng hit his seventh home run of the season on Wednesday in a game that Greensboro went on to win.
Pirates Prospects Daily
By Tim Williams
For the last week+, I’ve been on a reduced schedule, and the site has been on a reduced schedule. This week I’m resuming my editing duties, which means we’ll have a full schedule of articles again. We might even get to a point where it’s a somewhat normal schedule.
**Can Rodolfo Castro Be More Than A Platoon Player?
**Pirates Release Blake Cederlind; Travis Swaggerty Returns to Indianapolis
Song of the Day
+ posts
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.
MacGregor up to 96 and looking pretty damn good. His slider ( I’m assuming) has some pretty nasty bite to it
And 2 minutes later gives up a 2 run bomb out by the roller-coaster… 🤔
Pipeline podcast had jim callis convincing me that, for today, we should go skenes 1-1
I’ve been saying it all along. If you can have 5 or 6 starts in a playoff series by Keller, Skenes & Ortiz, well I’d like our chances. I know the lineup is weak right now, but with Endy, Davis & Cruz coming back + maturation from a few others, I’d roll with it.
Excellent, my DTs were nothing to sneeze at…
Just thinking that our strength of schedule so far has to be among the hardest in the league so far. Have gone through most of the top teams except for Atlanta and NYY
Yeah, but through the first month of the season we only played 2 teams with a record above .500. The Dodgers and Astros. We were bound to catch up somewhere. Might partially account for our success to start the season.
about ready for someone to leapfrog Mitchell and Canaan and Mathias in the outfield depth chart
Gorski by the break
Hank? Not sure who else it could be lol
Should have been Blake Sabol. At least his 4 hits against us did not hurt us in the Giants series.
Dylan Crews in 6 weeks. 😉
Heineman having a good day back in the majors, threw out a guy and got a hit (double). Against the brewers so he’s still helping us.
For a site that wants contributions to stay afloat the readers expect a full slate of articles to be posted daily.
I’m pretty sure Tim pulled a Toby Flenderson and went to Costa Rica.
I was looking at Chongqing.
Didn’t work out for Chiang Kai-Shek.
How so?
Or he’s the Scranton Strangler!
2 months in the books, 4 more left. Played 1/3 of the season. Over / under time…
Jack can reach 4 WAR but he’ll either need to hit lefties better or Shelton will need to limit his time facing lefties to avoid the negative WAR in those PAs (.526 OPS) dragging down his overall WAR. At this stage in his career, I want him facing lefties so it should come down to whether he can tread water against lefties (an OPS in the mid-600s?) while continuing to mash righties.
I still believe in Hayes and think he’ll go on a hot streak with the bat to get above 2.5-3 WAR.
Cutch has been better than we could have hoped for so I think he’ll slow down just a bit or miss some time due to injury, so no on getting to 3 WAR.
I love what Marcano has been doing, but he hasn’t been doing it long enough for pitchers to adjust. Because of normal growth patterns, he’ll go through some struggles before bouncing back but won’t quite get to 2 WAR.
For pitchers, I don’t even want to guess :). And sadly, I don’t think we have the depth to get to 82, especially in the rotation. I’ll know we’re serious about contending, though, if Ben swings a deal for a mid-rotation starter in the next month.
It’s going to be interesting to see how the pitch clock affects players, especially older players, as the heat of summer intensifies. One would think players like Hill and many other SP’s will have difficulty throwing as many innings, thus making bullpen depth more important.
Plus the Pirates razor thin SP depth will undoubtedly cost them some wins later this season.
I’d like to think they will finish over .500, but I definitely think the odds are against it.
Last question: Sticking with 72”
Hayes WAR will again be primarily defensive driven, cause his bat stinks.
Keller: no, but I think he gets to 5.
Jack: No, but over 3.
Cutch: no, around 2.
Hayes: yes. I think he ends up close to 3.
Marcano, Bednar, Oviedo, Holderman, Hernandez: yes.
Hill, Mireya: No.
Bonus: Reynolds has a strong final four months and gets over 4.
Bucs over 82: what the hell, yes.
can’t see my way past 80…squinting.
Try my glasses, Jim!
I an with you, in over 82, what the hell, yes!
Did the Pirates leave Matt Gorski unprotected in the rule 5?
He was damaged goods, I was watching the game he blew out his Quad
Coach was sending him home on an easy stand up triple, Gorski was moving way to fast to be held up last minute
TV went to fuzz, so nasty they never showed the injury
He made it back and ended up in Indy late where he tweaked the injury forcing him to miss the AFL
Yep
Taking my son to the curve game tonight for dollar dog night. Hoping Jones is on the mound but of course they don’t post our starters till later. Any guess who might be pitching?
Looking at the order the starters have been working the last few weeks, guessing Opener then Meis. Jones should be tomorrow, unfortunately for you.
Ehh it figures. Thanks for the heads up. Here’s to hoping for a bomb from Tank then
That would work for me. Hoping for a shuffle of the rotation for you anyway 🙂
SS Tsung-Che Cheng
Game stats: 2 for 4, one home run, two RBIs, two runs, one walk
Season stats: .293/.399/.565, seven doubles, six triples, seven home runs, 23 RBIs, 12 steals, 40 games
Is his ‘pop’ for real? There’s been lots of ‘little guys’ with surprising power. Is he going to be one of them?
Its real, about 15 months ago ST-2022 saw him yank one into the wind got out in a hurry. Dugout was going crazy, was perfect timing for a silent treatment.
He was 5’7 155 back then but only 20yo
This year watching the streams he’s def bigger and stronger
He is still 5’7 but more thick up top, not 155 anymore
He’s the most underrated player in the system
Gorski and Peggy to Indy, Henry somewhere
Cheng, Gonzalez and Guttierez to ALT
Terrero and Cirillo GBO
Lets go!
I would say that the pop from ZZZ is legit
He’s about the same size as Endy and Nick Gonzales
To date he’s putting up similar numbers in Greensboro
However it might take a few years for the 2022 FanGraphs prospect report to fade away
read something (here?) said his power was legit.
He is still triple Z to me.
Triple Z???
The Greensboro conundrum!
This guy is a gamer that has consistently performed for the last three years including the WBC. I don’t know if he will slug .565 forever, especially since that seems to be a bit inflated at Greensboro, but he will probably be a .450 slug which is plenty.
He seems like one of those guys that’s just going to keep performing at each level
Especially since it seems to be a bit inflated at Greensboro????
His stats are the only thing in this country not inflated
Home- .257/.381/.457/.838
Away- .326/.420/.651/.1.071
Your post gives the wrong impression to readers and yourself
The best SS in the sport has a SLG of 0.480 (Wander)
Not sure if he’s the best…yet. If he’s not, he’s pretty close.
Tony Solo does it again!!!
He is my #1 pitching prospect, bar none. The fact that he is a fellow lefty just sweetens it!
Be interesting to see what the national guys will have to say about him at mid-season if this performance continues.
An argument for saving some money at 1-1 to spend more later?
And take who at 1-1? By all accounts, I think most of the big five (except Clark) this year are better options at 1-1 than the guys in 2021. I don’t think it’s a good idea to punt on 1-1 with a signability pick.
If the pick in anything other than Crews, Skenes, or Langford, it will be viewed as dereliction of duty by BC.
Until Walker Jenkins ends up best player in the draft, when Ben will be redeemed like Ray Sinker Searage.
Walker Texas Jenkins. That should be his given name.
I don’t care if Jenkins or Clark turn out to be Mickey Mantle. Pirates have a window of contention opening up in next couple years. Neither of the HS guys will be ready to contribute, while one of the CBB players could be an integral member of the team then.
I have mixed feelings because I lean college players when they have the track records that Crews, Langford, and Skenes have. But when I scan recent drafts, it’s often the HS position players that become the best prospects while also seemingly having a higher bust rate too, as would be expected.
The safe pick is one of the three college players but if they’re sure enough about Clark or Jenkins and one will sign for ~$1.5MM under slot, then it’s worth considering. I.e., Kiley’s projection from the other day isn’t unreasonable–imagine if that pick is looking like Holliday a year from now?
To take the best hitter or Pitcher in CBB over the last few seasons is not just a “safe” pick, it’s the smart pick.
The best college hitter might be Schanuel in my opinion, he doesn’t have the pure power of Langford and Crews and is limited defensively. He walks more, strikes out less, is on par with XBH’s, and has performed very well when playing teams from power conferences and teams that made the college tournament.
Who’s Who in slash lines
420/567/710
398/521/823
447/615/868
Did he put up those numbers playing against SEC level competition?
BC doesn’t need to overthink this. Pick one of consensus top 3 CBB players and reap the rewards.
He also played 4 games against Miami if you consider them having SEC quality pitching. He went 8 for 14 against them with 6 BB’s and 2 K’s and 3 homeruns. He did go 3 for 4 the first 2 games but after he hit a homerun in his first at bat the 3rd game they started pitching around him as well walking him 5 times after that.
Your right he only played against Florida from the SEC, he went 4 for 7 with a walk and 2 strikeouts in 2 games. Florida did start pitching around him after he hit homeruns in his first three at bats.
I still prefer Crews, but think Schanuel might be the best hitter not necessarily the best player. The top three have higher ceilings, I think Schanuel’s floor is right there with them though.
Langford was also 4 for 7 with double and a triple. I don’t think he struck out in those games but did walk 3 or 4 times.
Schanuel isn’t going to be considered at 1-1 because of where he played (FAU), and more importantly, his poor performance in Cape Cod league last summer.
MLB has him ranked #29 on their big board.
I know, I’m not suggesting to draft him at 1 overall. I still think he might be the best overall hitter. He supposedly put on 20 pounds of good weight after the cape and also focused on pitch recognition. He reminds me of Joey Votto and don’t want him to end up in our division unless he’s playing for us.
He has been a steady riser in pipeline, going from the 50’s to 39 to 29. I was hoping he’d be there at 42 but think it’s more likely he goes top 15.
I lean that way but Clark and Jenkins must be pretty special if they’re widely considered to be in the same tier as the three college guys.
And if it’s the “right” HS player, the timeline may not be all that different. Corbin Carroll, for example, was contributing three years after being drafted out of HS. And if there is a big need before then, they could always include the HS prospect in a deal to fill a need.
Good point re: Corbin Carroll
My guess is that the HS OFers will both be on a fast-track
lol, this is ridiculous. Who?
Are you suggesting it’s ridiculous to suggest Skenes, Crews, or Langford could be integral members of a 2025 Pirates team vying for a division title?
“To take the best hitter or Pitcher in CBB over the last few seasons is not just a “safe” pick, it’s the smart pick.”
Who?
Don’t you have to go all the way back to Adley?
How “smart” has being dogmatically aligned with college picks turned out to be in reality?
It makes me wonder how much things would have changed in 2020 with the draft if there was a full year. Would guys like Tork and Nicky be a bit exposed and not drafted as high (doubtful with Tork, given his track record). That 2020 first round may end up as bad as 2016.
A train wreck you want to look away from. The overarching theory of that draft was to lean on college bats for the relative safety their larger track records were supposed to provide. Oops.
It won’t be that bad, some of the pitching is doing well and there’s some bats that could still develop.
Jacob Wilson
Elite OBP
“strikeouts are not ok”
I’d take Nolan Schanuel before Wilson, doesn’t strikeout much either but can take a BB and has more power. Also would be a lot cheaper.
I still prefer Crews or Skenes though. Schanuel reminds me of Joey Votto and I don’t want to see him in our division unless he’s playing for us.
Not that I’d want to do this for 2023, but man it would be fun to trade draft picks.
If you’re Texas, for example, would you be looking at dangling a top five pick in a potential deal for Dylan Cease? Or if you’re Seattle, with three picks in the top 30, maybe see if Cleveland wants to move Bieber?
I want the Pirates to figure out a trade for Seattle’s pick 30 for one of our surplus second basemen. Marcano’s off limits while he shows he can handle short.
Marcano is freak and off limits period
A fix on 26 just scratching the surface
Both he and Bae have another level
(Bae offense only)
BC should get 5-10 for what he did to SD not once but twice
I’m with ya, unless the picks want an unreasonable amount.
I hope if he keeps these performances up in June, he gets a promotion to Altoona. Still my #1b as long as Jones keeps progressing.
Good to have a 1a and 1b, but Jones needs a cool nickname, too. 😎😎😎
Hopefully he’ll be in Indy soon, but but don’t necessarily think that’s a good nickname. Probably a bit too much on the Harrison Ford side of things.
Hadn’t thought of Indy Jones connection.
Gorski having good results in his 7 game hit streak, only 3 K’s. His power is down a little with only 2 XBH’s but it’s still there.
Anthony constantly trashes Nick Gonzales but hypes Matt Gorski.
Gonzales is a SS who hits like a COF. Gorski is an OF who hits like a catcher.
okay this is bizarre.
Gonzo ain’t a SS, and he strikes out 30% of the time. He’s Keston Hiura 2.0. I was going to continue to point out what else was incorrect, but Lee handled it.
Cruz and Suwinski struck out too much too. The want their players to murder the ball. Then hope they learn pitch selection
You won’t give this up, will you? 🙂 🙂
Gonzales is a SS? And, as for his ‘constantly’ trashing NG, he was a ballyhooed hitting prospect while Gorski was just another 3rd round pick. NG gets much more ‘press’ while MG doesn’t. Plus, AM DOES note Gorski’s K issue,.
Also, Gorski adds defensive value, while NG will never be known for his glove.
BOTH have major K issues that must be resolved or else they will go from prospects to washouts.
Do you watch him or just see his position in the box score. I’ve seen him in Altoona. He can play SS. Just like I said w O’Neill Bae, Castro and Tuca. He’s playing 2nd because O’Neill and Hayes ain’t moving.
He also led NCAA in HRs he wasn’t hyped as a Freddy Sanchez he was hyped for his power.
I watch him and others on MiLB, And sure, he can play there, just not well. If he could play there well, he’d be our regular SS at Indy and NOT Chris Owings (at least until he got called up)”
Wait, are you saying Castro and Bae can play short? If so, then anyone can. I’ll start to limber up.
Re: SS
A few years ago I was critical of Bae’s play at SS and said he was the worst pro SS I’d ever seen
(I should not have been so critical. That’s a mistake on my part)
At the time I was told by someone (JD) that I need to see more games 🙂
I do think Gonzales could be an Adam Frazier-level defender in the IF
…playing against the Little Sisters of the Poor at 10,000′ elevation.
Great day for the most part in the system. Any signs that one of my favorite sites is coming out of hibernation to the excellent quality we’ve come to expect?
Nice to see good things from a lot of prospects.