Scouting the Pirates system 2023: Best Speed Tool

Looking at the players with the best speed tool in the Pirates' system.

Photo Credit: WTM

‘Scouting the Pirates system’ is taking an in depth look at the players in the organization, and how has the best tools. Each article will highlight a different tool, with each writer on the site pitching in who they believe has the best.

With the new rule changes that introduced the pitch clock, as well as limits the amount of pickoff attempts, we saw teams gets incredibly aggressive when it comes to stealing bases.

The Pirates have quite a few players that have the potential to really take advantage of the new rules, and they were aggressive on the bases to start the year, but finished middle of the pack in stolen bases in 2023.

When it comes to stolen bases, no one stole picked up more in the Pirates’ system than Jesus Castillo, who swiped 39 bags last year in Bradenton.

When it comes to prospects, there are actual measurements that are used to coming up with their grades, but it isn’t something that is steadily available online. So most of this will be based more so off the eye test than anything, another advantage we have here at the site.

Sergio Campana

When it comes to pure speed, Campana might be the fastest player in the system. Fangraphs gave him an ‘80’ speed tool a couple of years ago, the only issue is that he has struggled so much at the plate, the stolen base totals doesn’t do him justice.

You get your money’s worth seeing how quick he is defensively, where he plays a fantastic center field. It was the 2022 season during the combined no-hitter Bradenton posted that he made some fantastic, long running catches to keep it intact.

Lonnie White Jr.

Watching Lonnie play, it’s easy to see why I was so high on the Pirates drafting him back in 2021. He may have the most exciting combination of tools in the entire system.

He’s already been mentioned in the ‘best power’ and ‘outfield defense’, but he also is among the fastest players in the system as well. He stole 18 bases in just 61 games played, and also flashed his speed playing center field.

MLB Pipeline and FanGraphs both grade his speed as ‘double plus’ (70 grade).

Jack Brannigan

A lot of attention gets paid to his home run and extra-base totals, but next to his defense/arm, it’s his speed that is Brannigan’s best tool.

It shouldn’t be too much of a surprise, as Brannigan’s dad played track at Notre Dame. Speed has always been a key part of Jack’s game, and it’s shown on the bases - successfully stealing 30 bases on 36 career attempts.

WTM: Jhonson Pena

I’m assuming Liover Peguero, who’s had 213 plate appearances in the majors, no longer qualifies.  Statcast puts his speed in the 94^th percentile.  The Pirates have several lower level players who run very well, but I’ll go with Pena.  His speed no doubt is what led the Pirates to shift him from the infield to center field.  He showed it with 20 steal in 22 attempts in the FCL this year.

Other notables

Tsung-Che Cheng stole seven less bases in 2023 compared to 2022, in part to a huge drop in conversation rate (84% down to 68.4%) but that doesn’t discount just how fast he is.

He routinely turned some singles into doubles, even some doubles into triples.

Matt Gorski moves way quicker than he probably should, he’s topped 20 stolen bases in each of the last two seasons, and can fly in center. I'd like to see his actual running times