Pittsburgh Pirates Minor League Hitter of the Year: Jhonny Severino

Jhonny Severino posted double-digits home runs and stolen bases as a teenager

Photo Credit: WTM

With the minor league season completely over after Indianapolis wrapped up its schedule, we are going to hand out some awards for 2024. Today will be Hitter of the Year.

WTM, Nola, and I voted a top three for each hitter, pitcher, and breakout player of the year. After the winner, each WTM and Nola did a brief write-up on who they had as their top selection.

Last year’s ‘honor’ went to Jack Brannigan.

Winner - Jhonny Severino

This wasn’t the easiest to come up with. The odds-on favorite for most of the season, Charles McAdoo, was traded at the deadline for Isiah Kiner-Falefa.

That left an opening at the top that was hard to fill, as no one stood out above the others.

So, that took us all the way down to the Complex/Bradenton, and this year’s Bucs on Deck Hitter of the Year is infielder Jhonny Severino.

Acquired in the Carlos Santana trade, Severino put together a strong first full season in the minors, leaping up to Bradenton after the FCL season. The 19-year-old Severino registered double-digit totals in home runs and stolen bases while in the FCL and added some more once he got to the Marauders.

In total, Severino batted .271/.341/.528 with 16 home runs, 16 stolen bases, 55 runs, and 58 RBI in 84 games played between the FCL and Single-A Bradenton.

He did strike out a bit more than you’d like once he got to the Marauders, but for a 19-year-old, it was a solid start to full-season ball.

While there weren’t many players to stand out in the system, Severino’s combination of age, power, and speed helped separate them from the rest.

Others receiving votes (each person voting sent in a first, second, and third place): Omar Alfonzo, Esmerlyn Valdez, and Termarr Johnson.

Here’s who the other two voters selected as their Hitter of the Year.

WTM - Omar Alfonzo

Alfonzo didn’t put up huge stats, but he had very solid numbers at Bradenton and was better than that after a late promotion to Greensboro. Two important factors here are his playing a valuable defensive position, catcher, and the fact that he got noticeably better after moving up a level, which wasn’t common among hitters in the system who got promoted this year. 

Alfonzo was a relatively rare hitter in the system who had a good BB:K ratio; 61:117 for the season and better after he moved up.  He also put up very impressive exit velocities.  Those didn’t always translate into power, as he needs to elevate the ball more, but he did total 13 home runs. 

Alfonzo had a big platoon split, but that might serve him well as a left-handed hitter at a position where, if he makes it to the big leagues, he won’t play 150 games anyway.

Nola - Jhonny Severino

This was Jhonny Severino’s first full season with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, and it went very well, with a lot of excitement for future development. He mashed ten home runs with the Florida Complex League affiliate before being promoted after the complex season and hitting another six longballs with the Bradenton Marauders. The strikeout and walk rates both went in the wrong direction, but he has at least showcased an impressive toolset to look forward to.

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