Pirates' top prospects boosting Triple-A roster down the stretch

The Indianapolis Indians are going to get a heavy boost of some top prospects, both old and new, in the Pirates' system

Photo Credit: Ryan Palencer

There has been quite the shift when it comes to the Triple-A roster throughout the season.

When the year started, the Indianapolis Indians were more of a collection of depth players and former top prospects who didn’t make the major league roster (oh, and that guy named Paul Skenes).

The issue with the upper levels was that there wasn’t much of a presence when it came to hitting prospects. There were plenty of pitching prospects, mostly in Double-A, but that was the strength of the upper levels.

Now, the Pirates used their organization's strength to reinforce their biggest area of need.

It has transformed their roster into something much more interesting, especially regarding some of their top prospects in the system.

Nick Yorke and Billy Cook join the system, and thanks to the Charles McAdoo trade, you can make a pretty good argument that they become the two best-hitting prospects in the upper levels for the Pirates.

Initially drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the first round, Yorke was acquired in exchange for Quinn Priester, also a former first-round pick. With the Pirates' pitching depth and his continued struggles, it was hard to find a spot in the future for Priester, so Ben Cherington was able to flip him for a former top-100 prospect in the middle of a resurgent season.

He has a hit in each of his first three games in the organization.

Patrick Reilly was one of the biggest surprises in the Pirates’ system. The stuff had always been there, but the control improved. At the time of the trade, Reilly was leading the system in strikeouts.

Cook was having a strong season in Norfolk and put together a 20/30 season in Double-A Bowie last year. He’s 25 years old, but with the Orioles' hitting depth, it was hard to stand out in the crowd. With the Pirates, he’ll have more of a chance to stand out.

He has yet to play for the Pirates as of August 2. It will be interesting to see his usage, as he played first base mainly in Norfolk, but it was a pretty crowded outfield picture. MLB Pipeline gives him a ‘60’ grade for his speed and arm, so if he can play some center field, this trade has a lot of potential.

Indianapolis' biggest draw down the stretch will be its rotation, as arguably the top four pitching prospects in the system will be there.

Thomas Harrington, Bubba Chandler, and Braxton Ashcraft all started the year in the rotation with Altoona but will now all play together in Triple-A.

Ashcraft was promoted to Triple-A on June 11 and has pitched four games since then. He’s currently on the injured list. He threw three times before going on for the first time. He pitched once more before returning to the IL, where he has remained.

Even though he began the year on the injured list, Harrington quickly worked his way through Altoona, needing just 68.1 innings with the Curve before getting promoted.

Much attention is paid to Skenes, Jared Jones, and Chandler (even Ashcraft), but Harrington has been fantastic this season.

We saw a little bit of what Chandler was capable of last year down the stretch, but he struggled to replicate that in 2024. A week-long stint on the injured list due to a flare-up of a high-school injury marked a turning point for Chandler, however.

Control was the main issue, as he walked 18 batters in 24.2 innings before the IL stint and just eight in the 55.2 innings after. Chandler's biggest allure was always his upside.

The stuff has always been there, it was just a matter of putting it all together. It was just last year that he finally dedicated all of his time to pitching, and he already finds himself in Triple-A at 21.

It may be easy to forget about Mike Burrows, but heading into last season, there was an argument to be made that he was the top pitching prospect in the system.

He had Tommy John and is working his way back into the fold.

While he may not be an option for the major league team this year, his progress down the stretch could change how the Pirates approach the offseason.

Put all of that together, four-fifths of the potential rotation are among their top pitching prospects when healthy, and they also have Aaron Shortridge there already.

At 27, he isn’t a traditional prospect, although he’s been a solid producer when healthy, and could be a sneaky option should the Pirates need to turn to a starting pitcher.

Some other notable names are also on the roster, with former first-round pick Henry Davis and Jack Suwinski currently with Indianapolis.

The Pirates' work in identifying and developing pitching prospects is starting to show one step away from the majors. Whether it be actual pitchers or their ability to flip from their surplus to fill needs elsewhere, the Indians’ roster is getting a shot of energy from some of their best prospects.

It’s also a sign of another wave of prospects getting ready to hit in Pittsburgh and that the Pirates are also willing to trade from their strength to sure up some of their weak points.

---

This site is 100% reader-supported, with no revenue coming from ads. If you enjoy our work, consider becoming a paid member today.

You will not only help the site grow but also get access to our fantastic premium content, which includes our Top 25 rankings and full-player write-ups, video breakdowns, and any features that come from my on-site trips.

Bucs on Deck Top 25: Midseason updated list