Scouting the Pirates' system 2025: Best tools series recap
Who has the best tools in the Pirates' system in 2025?
For the third straight offseason, we took a look at some of the best tools in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ organization, featuring a different one each day.
With the series wrapped up, I wanted to take a quick recap of each tool and highlight a player or two we featured, along with the link to go back and read the article.
The ‘Hit’ Tool
The top two hitting prospects in the system, Konnor Griffin and Edward Florentino, were among the names mentioned here. It’s hard not to mention Griffin as having one of the better hit tools in the system when he reached safely one-third of the time (.333 average). Florentino posted amazing contact rates in Low-A Bradenton as an 18-year-old.
The ‘Power’ Tool
Two of the better sluggers in the system, mentioned in this article, are participating in the Arizona Fall League. Esmerlyn Valdez led the system with 26 home runs during the regular season and has another eight in the AFL, which is the most of any hitter there. Tony Blanco Jr. has perhaps the most raw power in all of minor league baseball, maybe even overall. He hit a ball 120.4 mph in the AFL, a feat few have matched.
The ‘Speed’ Tool
There wasn’t a hitting category we did here that didn’t include Griffin, but the speed tool is still his carrying tool right now. In his first pro season, the former first-round pick swiped 65 bags as a teenager. Johan De Los Santos flashed his elite wheels by stealing seven bases in a single game and over 30 in his first pro season in the DSL.
Best Infield Defense
The Pirates have done a good job of adding quality infield defenders over the past couple of years. Griffin won a Minor League Gold Glove, and Wyatt Sanford was among the best prep defenders at the position in his draft class (that also featured Griffin).
Best Outfield Defense
Will Taylor established himself as one of the better outfield defenders in the system over the course of his first full season. Josh Tate didn’t play much being a 2025 draft pick, but he quickly showed his skills in the outfield defensively. Shalin Polanco remains an underrated defender with good speed and a strong arm.
Best Fastball
There are plenty of good fastballs in the system, more than we were able to get to, but Bubba Chandler still paces the way with his elite heater. If he could throw more strikes, Reinold Navarro has the raw stuff to compete with Chandler’s. Antwone Kelly regularly hit triple-digits with Greensboro and Altoona.
Best Breaking Balls
Ryan Harbin has an easy ‘70’ grade on his slider, as despite his overall struggles with control, it remains a pitch that can induce plenty of swings and misses. Mike Walsh has a frisbee-esque slider that helped him put together a strong season out of the bullpen.
Best Offspeed Pitch
Not only does Chandler have the best fastball, but he also paces the Pirates’ system when it comes to offspeed pitches. Brandan Bidois had a 70% whiff rate with his change-up while pitching for Indianapolis. The splitter that Wilber Dotel switched to was one of the best in the minors, according to Baseball America.
Best Control/Command
Jake Shirk fills up the strike zone, pitching for two affiliates this season. He also played a part in both perfect games the Grasshoppers threw in 2025. Garrett McMillan had a walk rate under 4% before he was hurt.
Bucs on Deck 2025 Pittsburgh Pirates Top Prospects: Final Update
The 2025 minor league season is now over, so we can give one final update to our 2025 top prospects in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ organization.
The Pirates are at the point where they have to make some bold decisions for the future. First would be prepping Konnor Griffin and Termarr Johnson to be our MI by mid-season. Second would be seeing Esmerlyn Valdez as the power hitter he has shown himself to be in the minors in 2025 and now in the AFL this Fall. Yes, the pitching is down this year in the AFL, but stepping up and being THE BEST hitter in the AFL should be taken seriously, and he should also be in AAA with KG and TJ to begin the 2026 season. There were also some promising bats at AA and we need to make sure they can get a good look also.
The WS is over and DEAD SILENCE from the Pirate Management