WTM: Three Intriguing Prospects Outside the Pirates' Top 25

WTM takes a lot at hree players he's watching outside of the Bucs on Deck top 25 rankings

Ryan Harbin Photo Credit: WTM

The Pirates seemingly have a lot of players at the lower levels of their system who have abilities that would allow them to move up the prospect rankings. Figuring out which ones will do that is the tough part. Among players who aren’t in the Bucs on Deck top 25, I’m going to go with RHPs Ryan Harbin and Carlson Reed and OF Estuar Suero.

Ryan Harbin

Harbin was an above-slot prep pitcher taken back in 2019 — 17th round, $397,500 bonus — and found himself truly snakebit for years afterward. The lost 2020 season was bad enough, but in the first three seasons, he didn’t totally miss — in 2019 and 2021-22 — he threw only 40.1 IP due in part to injuries.

He started as a projectible pitcher who needed to work on his command, so getting so little time in wasn’t helpful. In 2023, he finally got a real season in, and the “projectible” part, at least, started working out well. His fastball sat at 96 mph and got into the upper 90s, and he showed a cutter and slider that both missed bats.

Harbin dominated in 21 games for Bradenton in 2023, with an 0.83 ERA and 12.1 K/9. He had far more trouble after a promotion to Greensboro; he gave up more walks and got hit a lot harder. Considering his limited experience, it’s not unreasonable to give him a mulligan on that, as the stuff is good. He won’t turn 23 until late in the 2024 season, so given all the missed time, he’d be doing fine if he got to Altoona by then.

Carlson Reed

Carlson Reed Photo Credit: WTM

At this point, what we have on Reed is largely just the scouting. A fourth-round pick out of West Virginia U., he projects as a reliever going forward. That’s how he started having success in college, with a move strictly to relief as a junior, producing a 2.61 ERA and 14.2 K/9. His fastball sits at 94-95 mph and reaches higher, and his 6’4” height and lean frame raise the possibility of more velocity. He also has a slider and change with the potential to be plus pitches. As with so many pitchers the Pirates draft, control has been an issue.

Reed pitched only briefly after signing and only in the Florida Complex League. He walked three in seven innings, so control wasn’t a big problem. He should be at Bradenton at least to open 2024, probably in some multi-inning role.

Estuar Suero

Eduar Suero Photo Credit: WTM

The Pirates acquired Suero from San Diego in the trade involving Rich Hill and Ji-Man Choi. The other players coming from the Padres were Alfonso Rivas, who’s already gone, and LHP Jackson Wolf, who, according to Baseball America, “fits best as a bulk reliever or a No. 5 starter on a second-division club.” Consequently, Suero appears to be the main item in the trade for the Pirates.

Suero is a very toolsy outfielder who, at least for now, figures to stay in center field. He has an above-average arm and a little above-average speed. At 6’5” and 180 lbs., he’s very tall and lean. In fact, he’s very similar to Gregory Polanco when Polanco first arrived stateside. (No, that’s not the most comfortable comp, but Polanco probably would have had a significant career as at least a pretty good hitter if he hadn’t wrecked his shoulder.)

Suero is a switch-hitter who appeared, at least to me, to have a stronger swing from the left side. He doesn’t currently put up good exit velocities, but Polanco didn’t hit the ball with much authority until he started filling out.

Before the Pirates acquired him, Suero struggled with swing-and-miss. In 13 games with the Florida Complex League Pirates, though, he was very patient, walking a dozen times, and he also struck out a dozen times.

It’s not much of a sample size, but it may represent some progress with the strike zone. Suero’s overall numbers with both organizations in 2023 were just passable, but he did hit five home runs and he didn’t turn 18 until near the end of the season. Bradenton, if the Pirates assign him there, should be a very good opportunity for him and he’ll play nearly the whole year at 18.