This is one in a weekly update on the Pittsburgh Pirates’ top 10 prospects.
For the second-straight week, the International League Pitcher of the Week resided with the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians.
After delivering his best outing since his promotion to Triple-A, Thomas Harrington was given the honor a week after Bubba Chandler. Chandler followed up last week’s performance with another dominant start.
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The Pittsburgh Pirates have selected in the top 10 of the MLB Draft for the past five seasons. During that span, the Pirates picked Henry Davis and Paul Skenes with the No. 1 overall pick two years apart.
However, the Pirates now rank 20th on MLB Pipeline’s updated organizational top 30 list. Four prospects sit in the top 100, led by right-handed starter Bubba Chandler at 41. Shortstop/outfielder Konnor Griffin (55), second baseman Termarr Johnson (84), and righty starter Braxton Ashcraft (96) round out the remaining Pirates representatives.
Pittsburgh dropped 11 spots from MLB Pipeline’s preseason rankings and dropped 18 spots from being the second-best organization last year at this time after drafting Skenes.
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It’s a significant fall from grace for the Pirates, but due in large part to Skenes, Jared Jones, Henry Davis, and Nick Gonzales graduating.
Kiley McDaniel of ESPN painted a bleaker picture of the farm system and identified the same four players in his midseason update. Chandler ranks 43rd overall, with a 50 FV tier value, followed by Griffin (86) and Johnson (94). McDaniel identifies Ashcraft as a ‘notable riser’ in baseball.
One of the worst parts? Five of the top 10 – Minnesota, Baltimore, Cleveland, LA Dodgers, and Seattle – are in solid playoff positions, and three are the best teams in baseball. Translation: quality organizations that continue to replenish their organization despite failing to pick in the top 10 every season.
It’s about drafting and developing. That’s something the Pirates have fallen short on with Davis, Jack Suwinski, Ke’Bryan Hayes, and others this season. Their bats have seemingly regressed. Termarr Johnson, Mitch Jebb, and Lonnie White Jr. are a few highly regarded prospects who have experienced fewer peaks than valleys in 2024.
The Pirates exemplify a fine job in developing starting pitching and a few bullpen arms. Hitting remains a glaring caveat and the most necessary area for improvement. It starts in the minor leagues, where the Bucs need to get back to the drawing board with no help coming soon in the pipeline.
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