‘Baseball without the B.S.’: Estimation rising internally for Pirates prospect Charles McAdoo
When Charles McAdoo arrived in Altoona after being promoted from High-A Greensboro on June 21, his reputation preceded him.
Since debuting professionally for the Bradenton Marauders in 2023, McAdoo’s estimation in the eyes of the Third baseman Charles McAdoo was promoted to the Altoona Curve on June 21. has grown.
“He came highly, highly respected from the staff in Greensboro,” Curve manager Robby Hammock said. “He’s highly respected in the organization. Tremendous worker, plays the game the right way. He just plays baseball without all the B.S. He just gets it done.
“He’s different. The way he carries himself, the way he goes about the game, it’s different and you can see it. A trained eye sees it very well.”
Following a decorated and statistically robust collegiate career at San Jose State, McAdoo hit the ground running at Bradenton, batting .302 with five homers and 24 RBIs over 28 games last year.
McAdoo’s prowess at the plate led to his promotion to Double-A, news of which he received from Greensboro skipper Blake Butler, with his mom and dad visiting town.
For McAdoo, the offensive success simply boils down to the work he’s put in.
“I would say it’s my preparation in the offseason and having a tough mental capability,” McAdoo said. “The game’s a good portion mental, like it is physical, so I feel like it’s a good tribute to my mental toughness.”
Debuting with Altoonan, even if he’s still acclimating on June 22, McAdoo promptly went 2 for 4 with a double and a homer.
Through seven games at Double-A, McAdoo is hitting .280 with an OPS of 1.118.
“Just trying to take it one day at a time, getting settled in. Nothing too drastic, just try to keep the same routine. I’m fairly routine — just try to keep everything light, not take it too serious and have fun.”
Speaking recently with reporters, Pirates general manager Ben Cherington had a confession to make when conversation shifted to McAdoo.
“Candidly, when we drafted him, I didn’t know much about him,” Cherington said. “Met him when he signed. Once you take (someone) in the 13th round or whatever, then you go back and look a little deeper.”
Fast forward to now and Cherington is more intimately aware of McAdoo, who has risen to No. 29 on the Pirates’ top prospects list, per MLB Pipeline.
