Altoona Curve 2024 break camp roster: Which players to watch
Altoona has some of the top pitching prospects in the system, looking beyond that, who are some names to keep an eye on?
Double-A is usually the first big step in the development of a prospect. There’s generally a good chance that if you can succeed here, you can find some sort of a role at the major league level.
When it comes to the Altoona Curve, they certainly have a few players who have the upside to make a contribution in the majors, as some of the top prospects in the system are set to begin the year here.
The obvious names are Bubba Chandler, Anthony Solometo, and Braxton Ashcraft, on the pitching side of things. All three are mostly considered to be Top 10 prospects in the Pirates’ system. On the hitting side, Tsung-Che Cheng was added to the 40-man roster (like Ashcraft) this past off-season after having strong 2023 seasons.
Those would be the easy answers to go with as far as players to watch, so I wanted to dig a little deeper into the roster for some other names of note that will be playing in Double-A to start the season.
Valentin Linarez
I’ve been burnt, badly, by reliever prospects before, but Linarez has very good stuff that started to play up even more once he made the shift to the bullpen.
He really struggled as a starter in Greensboro but flourished after the move, even making it to Altoona before the end of the season. He also put up solid numbers in winter league play this off-season.
I saw him down in Greensboro before he got promoted, and here he is pumping a 97 MPH fastball past a hitter for a strikeout.
Things didn’t go well in his two appearances with Altoona, so I could be setting myself up for failure, but he also has a really good two-pitch mix that fits well out of the bullpen.
He averaged right at 97 MPH in a Spring Training outing he had with the Pirates, which plays up even more with his 7.5 extension (also 16.5” IVB).
Jackson Glenn
He had a very strong career at Dallas Baptist but was an under-slot signing as a senior back in 2021 for the Pirates.
Then, he struggled in Greensboro the following year in his first full season before bouncing back last year, even leading to a promotion to Altoona, where he continued to put up solid numbers.
Part of that was hitting the ball in the air more, something I wrote about during the off-season.
He hit 12 home runs total last year, and while he’s on the older side for a prospect (26), he seems to be forming into a quality depth player.
Tres Gonzalez
One of the best contact hitters in the Pirates system- he actually was until Mitch Jebb was drafted and started playing games- Gonzalez will get the same test that Cheng got last year.
Will the lack of power be too much of an issue in Double-A?
Gonzalez is a solid defensive player, fully capable of playing center field, and does have some sneaky gap power- just like Cheng- but will he be able to put it together in Altoona.
Watching him in person, he drove the ball a little harder than I was expecting, even hitting a home run too.
He’s a guy that probably will never hit double-digit home runs, but also has 35 stolen bases in 138 career minor league games.
I am Groot.