Scouting the Pirates system 2024: 'Best Tools' Recap
Scouting the Pirates system 2024: 'Best Tools' Recap
A look back at the best tools in the Pirates sytem
Over the past two weeks have taken a deep dive into the Pittsburgh Pirates system and looked at who has some of the best tools throughout.
When it comes to the position players, we dove into the hit, power, speed, infield defense, and outfield defense tools. Here’s a look back at each one, and who Nola, WTM, and I picked for each one:
Hit
Nola: Nick Cimillo
WTM: Termarr Johnson
Murphy: Nick Yorke
Power
Nola: Tony Blanco Jr.
WTM: Tony Blanco Jr.
Murphy: Tony Blanco Jr.
Speed
Nola: Konnor Griffin
WTM: Lonnie White Jr.
Murphy: Konnor Griffin
Best Infield Defense
Nola: Jack Brannigan
WTM: Javier Rivas
Murphy: Jack Brannigan
Best Outfield Defense
Nola: Billy Cook
WTM: Lonnie White Jr.
Murphy: Lonnie White Jr.
Shifting to the pitching side of things, we took a look at some of the best fastballs, breaking balls, and off-speed pitches in the system. With the Pirates’ depth at pitcher in the minors, there were plenty of options to choose from, but this is where we landed:
Best Fastball
Nola: Bubba Chandler
WTM: Bubba Chandler
Murphy: Bubba Chandler
Best Breaking Ball
Nola: Braxton Ashcraft, Slider
WTM: Braxton Ashcraft, Slider
Murphy: Ryan Harbin, Slider
Best Offspeed Pitch
Nola: Mike Burrows
WTM: Mike Burrows
Murphy: Bubba Chandler
Best Control/Command
Nola: Thomas Harrington
WTM: Thomas Harrington
Murphy: Thomas Harrington
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Nick Cimillo with the Best Hit Tool in the system? He did hit for a 1.038 OPS in A+ as a 24 year old, 1.9 years older than average for that league. Promoted to AA where he was just a little bit older than average and came back to reality with a .691 OPS. If he was 2 or 3 years younger, I'd like the numbers better, but still not as a candidate for recognition in this category.
OK, getting on to what we might need and taking into consideration players who are on teams that will be dead meat for 2025. The ChiSox have Andrew Benintendi signed for 3 more years for a total of $47.5 mil ($16.5 mil in 2025 and 2026, and $14.5 mil in 2027. We pick up the contract and they pay half of 2025 and 2026 for a total of $16.5 mil. The Pirates would be responsible for approximately $10 mil per year for the next 3 years. That's about the cleanest deal possible and the Pirates take on a positive gamble on a LH hitting OF with 20 + HR capability. I think BC knows this player well, as "Benny" was the First Round pick of the Red Sox in 2015, during BC's tenure.