Morning Rundown: 2025 Pittsburgh Pirates minor league guide, Pirates lose to Tigers
Pirates minor league guide out, Pirates lose to Tigers on Sunday
By John Dreker
For the second year in a row, David Finoli and Draft Nation teamed up to produce the Pittsburgh Pirates Minor League Guide. David amassed a group of writers who cover the Pirates and their minor league system. My main job on the project has been writing articles that look at how the Pirates built up their team and their farm system in the past. The entire history of the Pirates franchise from 1882 until now is filled with interesting stories, allowing me to pick from that vast history for my subjects. I wrote four of those articles this year that are spread throughout the book, looking at the Pirates during four points throughout the years.
One of last year's topics was the 1899 trade between the Pirates and Louisville Colonels that brought Honus Wagner, Fred Clarke and a host of other key players to Pittsburgh. It's the biggest trade in team history, as well as the most important deal. However, the franchise did something very similar following the 1884 season that helped keep baseball in Pittsburgh and bring the Pirates to the National League. That 1884-85 deal was the oldest topic I tackled in depth for the book.
This year is the 100th anniversary of the 1925 World Series champs, a great team in Pirates history that gets overshadowed by the other four title teams. My second article looks at how the Pirates acquired all of the key players from that club. I skipped ahead 60 years from there to show the results from the 1985 amateur draft, which was the best draft in franchise history due to the selection of Barry Bonds.
There was plenty to look at that year beyond Bonds because the draft used to include multiple stages at different times of the year. That is all covered in detail with the third article. We then jump to the 2015 team to look at how the Pirates put together one of the best teams in franchise history. The tenth anniversary of that 98-win season is the perfect time to see how the franchise was successful in building a great team.
The main part of the book is the minor league system currently. The history articles are included to show how teams have been built in the past, showing the differences throughout the years. The book also includes three history articles from David Finoli, giving you plenty to read besides the current state of the farm system.
Despite starting out as a bit of a pitcher’s duel, Sunday’s game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Detroit Tigers ended up into a home run derby of sorts, with the road team coming out ahead 10-4.
Six players hit home runs, three from each side. Henry Davis, Endy Rodriguez, and Darick Hall went deep for the Pirates, representing all four of their runs on the day.
Trey Sweeney, Jahmai Jones, and Thayron Liranzo hit homers for the Tigers.
It started as a pitching matchup between two of the better young arms in the game. Jared Jones tossed 2.2 innings, allowing one run on two hits and two walks while striking out four.
He got off to a rough start, loading the bases on a hit and two walks, before there was an out recorded. After tightroping through the inning, allowing just one run, Jones was more lights out.
Jones focused on his curveball and change-up in this outing, getting a pair of whiffs with the latter. He threw 44 pitches total, 24 of which went for strikes.
The top pitching prospect in the game, Jackson Jobe, showed why, as a first-pitch, lead-off home run by Henry Davis was one of two hits he allowed in three innings. He threw 99 mph four times with his fastball, mixing in a couple of his other pitches.
The home runs for Davis, Hall, and Rodriguez were all their first of the spring.
Pittsburgh heads to Tampa to face the Yankees Monday night with Bailey Falter expected to face Max Fried. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 pm ET.
After the game, it was reported that Termarr Johnson, Jack Brannigan, Anthony Solometo, and Konnor Griffin had all been assigned to minor league camp.
Johnson played in four games, going 1-7 with four strikeouts and a RBI. Brannigan picked up two hits (a double and triple), scoring twice in 11 at-bats. Griffin hit his first pro home run and scored three runs in seven at-bats. He went 0-2 on Sunday with his first strikeout.
The lone pitcher reassigned, Solometo pitched once, striking out two and walking another in an inning.
Top Exit Velocity
Tommy Pham - 107.8 mph - Single
Henry Davis - 103.4 mph - Home Run
Ke’Beryan Hayes - 101.5 mph - Groundout
Ji Hwan Bae - 100.8 mph - Forceout
Bryan Reynolds - 96.7 mph - Flyout
Top Pitch Velocity
Jared Jones - 98.4 mph
Jared Jones - 98.2 mph
Jared Jones - 98.2 mph
Jared Jones - 98.1 mph
Jared Jones - 98 mph
Most Whiffs
Jared Jones - 6
Yohan Ramirez - 5
Valentin Linarez - 3
Ryan Borucki - 2
Nick Dombkowski - 2
Ryder Ryan - 2
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I wrote just the top part here about the minor league guide. I just wanted to give a little insight on what you get that other similar guides don't provide. Make no mistake, the main part of the book is the top 50 prospects in the system, as well as related topics, such as guessing the 26-man roster, where the top prospects should start 2025, other prospects of note, etc.
We lowered the price from last year, but it's the exact same quality as the first guide
Pirates claimed RHP Justin Lawrence off waivers from the Rox. Judging from the MLBTR pic he’s a submarine guy.
I know diddly about this guy, except he has no options.
Somebody gotta go bye bye to clear space.