Breaking down the roster shuffling the Pirates' system
While nothing is ‘official’ yet, it looks like there is going to be quite a bit of roster shuffling within the Pirates’ system, mainly on the pitching side.
The first half of the regular season is officially over for each of the full-season affiliates, so teams will get a second opportunity to fight for a playoff spot at the end of the year.
Greensboro came the closest, finishing half a game behind the Brooklyn Cyclones. It was even closer than the standings indicated, as Brooklyn trailed late in the final game of the first half but rallied and ultimately won.
Now, we are seeing some players get moved around to new levels. We’ve already seen some, but they may be coming more often now.
Here’s a look at the players we know for sure (as of late Monday night):
Duce Gourson
Season Stats: .261/.368/.449, 131 wRC+, 5 HR, 18 RBI, 21 SB
The lone hitter, that we know of, to get promoted so far, Duce Gourson, will be heading to Altoona from Greensboro. He started the year as the Grasshoppers’ leadoff hitter, stealing four bases in the season opener.
He finished his time in High-A with 21 stolen bases, tied for ninth in the South Atlantic League.
Gourson is a contact-oriented hitter whose power is going to be more of a gap-to-gap approach.
It will be interesting to see how Gourson handles Altoona. People’s Natural Gas Field suppresses left-handed hitting power, but then again, that’s not really his game.
He hit more home runs away from First National Bank Field (Greensboro), but his average was over .150 points better at home. There’s some interest in his game, but he’ll have to show it in Altoona before you can truly buy in.
Antwone Kelly
Season Stats: 1-1, 3.03 ERA, 59.1 IP, 17 BB, 70 K
Perhaps the highest-profile name moving up a level for now, Antwone Kelly has taken one of the biggest steps development-wise in the entire Pirates’ system this year.
A lot will cite the velocity jump, which doesn’t hurt; he has topped triple-digits multiple times this season, but it’s the improvement in his fastball command that is setting him up for success, as I noted in an article on Baseball America back in May.
As of his promotion, Kelly has cut his walk rate down 4%, down to 7.4%.
His fastball sits in the mid-90s, but, as mentioned previously, he has reached triple digits. He has mixed in a change-up, slider, and cutter to round out a starter’s arsenal.
The question will be about his frame, as he is listed at 5’10” (You can almost never believe what is on the MiLB.com page, so he may have grown), and if that can hold up as a starter down the road.
Altoona will be a good test for a kid who will be 21 until September.
Ryan Harbin
Season Stats: 2-2, 4 SV, 2.37 ERA, 30.1 IP, 23 BB, 46 K
Another player heading to Altoona, Ryan Harbin, has some electric stuff, but has struggled with his control. He’s striking out 34.8% of the batters he’s faced, but has also walked 17.4%.
He attacks with a sinker/slider combination. The sinker he can dial up to the upper-90s, and the slider can be nearly unhittable when it’s thrown near the zone. He has the stuff to pitch in the majors, but control has held him back.
Brandan Bidois
Season Stats: 3-0, 5 SV, 23.1 IP, 0.78 ERA, 13 BB, 28 K
It was almost a shock that Brandan Bidois began the year in Greensboro, although the start of his year was delayed by an injury. He pitched in the Arizona Fall League last year and pitched one inning with Triple-A Indianapolis to close out the 2024 season.
He’s another electric stuff, lacks control, reliever. Something not uncommon in the lower levels. He has an outlier fastball that gets high induced vertical break (iVB) marks. His fastball usually works 93-95, and I’ve seen him top out at 97 mph.
He mixes in a cutter and a couple of breaking balls.
Inmer Lobo
Season Stats: 2-0, SV, 31.2 IP, 1.71 ERA, 10 BB, 35 K
Acquired by the Pirates in exchange for Hoy Park, Inmer Lobo heads to Greensboro after pitching in 13 games for the Marauders this season.
Lobo is a fascinating case, as he averages 88 mph with his fastball, but has outlier characteristics, and has had some success with the pitch. It sets up his change-up as his primary secondary pitch, which helps him against right-handed hitters.
That creates some extreme reverse splits (.152 vs RHH, .348 vs LHH). He’s more of a depth arm, but throws strikes and gets outs.
Peyton Stumbo
Season Stats: 0-3, 49 IP, 4.41 ERA, 8 BB, 46 K
This is who will likely take Kelly’s spot in the rotation at Greensboro. Peyton Stumbo spent the 2024 season as a reliever in Bradenton but has made the shift to the bullpen.
It’s been an up-and-down season for Stumbo; he threw four no-hit innings in his first start. He’s also had some clunkers.
No matter if it’s good or bad, Stumbo is a guy who can log some innings and throw strikes. The fastball exhibits some outlier traits (notice a trend), and the curveball complements it well.
Again, why not Esmerlyn Valdez, 21, who, with Konnor Griffin, look like the two best hitters in the system right now. Valdez has 256 AB's at A+ with 18 doubles, 1 triple, and 19 HR, 1.014 OPS. At A as a 20 year old he had 358 AB with 17 doubles, 1 triple, and 22 HR, 815 OPS. So, a major improvement as he moved up. Prospects need to be advanced as quickly as their performance at a level indicates as much. This kid has shown the type of power that the Pirates always want to get, but they are always a day late or a dollar short. Let them tell you when they may be overmatched - until then, allow them to play themselves as far as their talent and confidence will take them!
Another player needing to be advanced to AA is LH hitting Catcher Omar Alfonzo. He is in his age 22 season, and in 218 AB this year at A+ he has 8 doubles, 11 HR, and an 840 OPS. In 2024 he had about 100 AB at A+ and an OPS above 800. There are 3 Catchers at AA who are 25 or older and I don't think any of them even has an OPS near 600. The Catchers below Alfonzo are also very good - Axiel Plaz, 20, at A, and Richard Ramirez, 20, in the FCL. They can all move up.
Looking forward to my next Toon Town Action Report when these guys come up!