2024 Mid-season 'All-Stars' and awards in Pirates system
2024 Mid-season 'All-Stars' and awards in Pirates system
A look at some of the top performers during the first half of the minor league season in the Pirates' system
All four full-season minor league teams have officially begun the second halves of the 2024 season after Indianapolis and Altoona played on Tuesday.
The Greensboro Grasshoppers were the lone affiliate to lock in a playoff spot at the end of the season by winning their division during the first half.
Before the second half gets fully underway, here’s a quick look back at the first half with an ‘All-Star’ team and a few mid-season awards.
Anyone in the majors or who has spent most of the year with the Pirates won’t be on here—so no Paul Skenes or Nick Gonzales.
Catcher
Omar Alfonzo: .255/.373/.373, 4 HR, 22 RBI, 120 wRC+
Richard Ramirez: .309/.407/.505, 3 HR, 17 RBI, 144 wRC+
This one was difficult because they are having good seasons. Ramirez has been one of the better hitters in a very good lineup while being 18 years old. He’s also done well defensively, throwing out nearly half of attempted base stealers.
Alfonzo has struggled to elevate the ball at times, limiting his impressive exit numbers, but he’s still one of the better hitters in the lower levels for the Pirates.
I went with both and used the fact that I went with a four-man rotation for the pitching side, so I will need two catchers then.
Corner Infielders
Charles McAdoo: .336/.407/.582, 11 HR, 55 RBI, 14 SB, 172 wRC+
Jhonny Severino: .281/.380/.553, 6 HR, 24 RBI, 8 SB, 140 wRC+
It’s not a hard argument to convince anyone that McAdoo is having the best offensive season of any hitter in the Pirates’ system right now. He has double-digits, home runs, and stolen bases, is batting well over .300, and has one of the lowest whiff rates in the system.
Severino has shown quite a bit of power at the top of the FCL Pirates lineup, setting the table for the best offensive team in the league. With a home run on Tuesday, that puts him close to double-digits in home runs and stolen bases with about a month left in the season.
Middle Infielders
Yordany De Los Santos: .344/.406/.512, 3 HR, 24 RBI, 15 SB, 145 wRC+
Keiner Delgado: .258/.333/.424, 5 HR, 16 RBI, 11 SB, 118 wRC+
This was a little tougher, as there weren’t that many options to choose from. Jack Brannigan, Carlos Caro, and Termarr Johnson were all considered, two of which are more well-known prospects.
I nearly gave the edge to Caro, but he’s also had less than 100 plate appearances this year, so I shifted to Delgado. He’s done nothing but hit since joining the system and has flashed more power than expected.
De Los Santos has been one of the more exciting players in the FCL this year, stealing 15 bags and hitting another three home runs—one of which was inside the park.
Outfield
Matt Gorski: .265/.313/.583, 14 HR, 44 RBI, 4 SB, 117 wRC+
Esmerlyn Valdez: .229/.351/.428, 9 HR, 30 RBI, SB, 127 wRC+
Sammy Siani: .274/.346/.452, 7 HR, 33 RBI, 9 SB, 122 wRC+
Gorski is among the system leaders in home runs and is faring better in Triple-A this time, even if the strikeouts are still up. Speaking of strikeouts, Valdez has struggled with that lately but is still launching home runs out of LECOM Park regularly.
Siani has been one of the more notable ‘breakout’ players this year. After a couple of years stuck in Greensboro, things have started to click for him, and now he finds himself in Altoona. He’s still adjusting to Double-A but should easily finish the year with double-digits in home runs and stolen bases.
Designated Hitter
Shawn Ross: .201/.378/.545, 14 HR, 32 RBI, 5 SB, 154 wRC+
All of these numbers are from before the games on Tuesday, so this hasn’t been updated with Ross’ system leading the 15th home run of the season yet. And it’s hard to leave off the guy with the home run lead off this.
Starting Pitchers
Braxton Ashcraft: 3-2, 3.23 ERA, 64.1 IP, 27.2 K%, 4.2 BB%
Carlson Reed: 4-3, 2.29 ERA, 55 IP, 29.6 K%, 13.5 BB%
Hunter Barco: 2-1, 3.46 ERA, 52 IP, 28.8 K%, 9.6 BB%
Thomas Harrington: 0-1, 2.88 ERA, 40.2 IP, 24.5 K%, 2.5 BB%
The Pirates have a lot of good starting pitchers, so this list was a little more complicated to put together. Michael Kennedy, Patrick Reilly, Bubba Chandler, and Antwone Kelly were other names considered here.
Ashcraft dominated Double-A and has allowed one run in 15.1 innings pitched with Triple-A Indianapolis.
Reed has done well in Bradenton and is working towards a promotion, as is Barco, who is pitching in one of the more pitcher-hostile environments in the South Atlantic League.
Harrington started the year late but is on a roll and caught up quickly.
Relief Pitchers
Luis Peralta: 4-0, 3 SV, 32.1 IP, 0.56 ERA, 43.2 K%, 12 BB%
Cy Nielson: 1-1, 3 SV, 27 IP, 2.33 ERA, 28.9 K%, 9.6%
Peyton Stumbo: 0-2, 3 SV, 33.1 IP, 3.51 ERA, 30.3 K%, 9 BB%
Regardless of position, Peralta was perhaps the easiest to put on this list. He’s been fantastic this season and got off to a quick start in Double-A.
This is Nielson’s second year in Greensboro, and he is pitching really well this time. His ERA is nearly two runs better than it was in 2023.
Stumbo has quietly had a solid year in the Marauders' bullpen. The Pirates took so many SEC relievers last year that it was easy to overlook the one from Nevada.
*Note: All statistics are previous to Tuesday’s games, except for Peralta’s.
Player of the Mid-Season: Charles McAdoo
Not a hard pick there, he’s hit from the moment he hit the field professionally, and that has him in Double-A already and off to a good start as well.
Moving to Altoona may neutralize some of the power, but there is the outside 20/20 potential should he get hot.
Pitcher of the Mid-Season: Braxton Ashcraft
Perhaps the Pirates' most major league-ready prospect still in the minors, Ashcraft was recently promoted to Indianapolis and is now one call away from the big leagues.
The Pirates have loosened the reigns on him another year off of Tommy John, and he’s answered about every question you could have for his development-wise; the only glaring one left—just how effective can he be getting major league hitters out?
Breakout Player: Charles McAdoo
He showed signs that he could hit, but did anyone predict he’d emerge as arguably the best-hitting prospect in the system?
Player to watch in second half: Bubba Chandler
Since returning from a brief injured list stint, something has clicked for him, and he’s looking a lot like he did down the stretch in 2023. He’s easily the best prospect in the system once Paul Skenes officially graduates.
If he keeps putting starts together like he has recently, he may end up one of baseball's best pitching prospects.
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Landon Tomkins has also been really good as Bradenton’s closer(well, he’s on the 7 day right now). And the stuff looks “backend”. 94-97 FB with a hard, mid 80s SL.
And even though he’s an older “prospect” and was a Senior/under-slot draft pick, I still think there is more in tank and sitting more 95-98 is likely. He’s a big dude.
Perachi could get in there as longman