Morning Rundown: MLB Pipeline top catchers, Josh Hader rumors, Bubba Chandler BA recognition
MLB Pipeline released their top 10 catching prospects, a team is aggressively pursuing Josh Hader, and Bubba Chandler gets some recognition on BA.
MLB Pipeline has been releasing their top 10 prospects for each position over the last couple of days, and the Pirates had been represented early on.
They had a player each when it came to right and left-handed pitching prospects - Paul Skenes (#1 RHP) and Anthony Solometo (#5 LHP) - but now things started to shift to the hitting side of things.
Thursday, they released their top 10 catching prospects, a position the Pirates did very well last year - both Endy Rodriguez and Henry Davis were ranked - but with them graduating, they were no longer eligible.
Ethan Salas was named the top-catching prospect in the game currently, which should come as no surprise, seeing that he reached Double-A at just 17 years old. He didn’t hit overly well (53 wRC+ in Double-A) but did draw walks at a 12.1% rate.
The entire list went like this.
Ethan Salas - SD
Samuel Basallo - BAL
Jeferson Quero - MIL
Harry Ford - SEA
Kyle Teel - BOS
Dalton Rushing - LAD
Blake Mitchell - KC
Moises Ballesteros - CHC
Edgar Quero - CHW
Diego Cartaya - LAD
The Houston Astros may have zeroed in on a new closer to replace Kendall Graveman, who is out for the season after undergoing shoulder surgery.
Josh Hader has saved over 100 games in the last three years for the San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers and is a free agent. Multiple insiders are all linking Hader to the Astros now, especially after the news on Graveman.
The left-hander is reportedly seeking a record-setting contract for a closer, which is currently held by Edwin Diaz and his five-year, $105 million deal.
Baseball America continues to follow up on its top 100 rankings, one of which was looking at nine players that are ‘primed to rise in our 2024 Top 100 MLB Prospect Ranking,’ with Bubba Chandler being one of them.
They credited the development of his secondary pitches as part of his late-season breakthrough.
Every Monday during the offseason, we will be doing a mailbag article. Please send in your questions to have them answered! Either comment below with ‘mailbag’ entered in the message or email us at bucsondeckqa@gmail.com.
I look forward to answering what you guys have!
The most interesting development to monitor in Pirates organization this year is:
1. Paul Skenes fastball.
1A. Bubba Chandler secondary pitches.
2. Termarr Johnson hit tool.
3. Lonnie White’s entire game.
Everything else is secondary to these 4 things in my opinion.
Axiel plaz is going to rebound and thrive this year, i hear he's the next joe mauer