Pirates 2023 Minor League Previews: Indianapolis Indians – Pirates Prospects

The 2023 minor league season totally kicks off this weekend. To get you ready to observe the prospects within the Pittsburgh Pirates system, we’ve put collectively previews for each degree.

Pirates 2023 Minor League Previews

Triple-A: Indianapolis Indians
Double-A: Altoona Curve
Excessive-A: Greensboro Grasshoppers
Single-A: Bradenton Marauders

Indianapolis is ready to offer depth for the Pirates with a variety of the system’s prime prospects. The Pirates have just a few younger gamers already getting their pictures within the majors this 12 months. They are going to hopefully be joined by prime prospects Endy Rodriguez, Nick Gonzales, Quinn Priester, Mike Burrows, and others.

The prospect and general depth at Indianapolis is deep. Right here is how that breaks down, with an apparent tendency right here for specializing in the prospect depth.

CATCHERS

The Pirates will see the highest prospect of their system getting on a regular basis taking part in time behind the plate. Endy Rodriguez had a breakout season in 2022, and can look to interrupt into the majors this 12 months. As of this writing, the Pirates have already seen an damage on the MLB degree, with Tyler Heineman getting the early season name. Rodriguez will get expertise within the higher ranges, and if all goes effectively, he ought to be within the majors by summer time.

Except for Heineman, Grant Koch is in Indianapolis as a backup, with each of the backup catchers standing out for his or her protection.

INFIELDERS

The standout right here is Nick Gonzales, who the Pirates drafted with their first choose in 2020. Gonzales was drafted for his pure hitting abilities, however has proven contact points within the higher ranges. He’s been making changes during the last 12 months to regulate his bat path and permit it to replenish the zone extra.

Gonzales has a great eye, fast palms, and that combo provides him a bent to try to meet the ball on the level of contact with a direct bat path swing to that time. The Pirates have been engaged on getting him to be much less direct to the ball, and as an alternative, swinging with the forgiveness to permit him to hit a number of pitches. He confirmed some good outcomes on the finish of final 12 months, however I don’t suppose the adjustment has persistently taken maintain. When it does, Gonzales in all probability might be a extra rounded participant, somewhat than only a excessive contact man.

Malcom Nunez and Aaron Shackelford each have a shot to face out within the first base race. The Pirates have Carlos Santana, Ji-Man Choi, and Connor Joe as choices in Pittsburgh, so there’s no rush to get assist from the minors at that place. Nunez was acquired final 12 months on the deadline for Jose Quintana, and is the lead candidate to emerge as a primary base possibility in Pittsburgh. Shackelford emerged with a good offensive season in Altoona, and is a sleeper to observe.

Tucupita Marcano is in his age 23 season, and has proven flashes of success on the plate. He can play everywhere in the area, and is on the 40-man roster, so count on him to get a variety of appears for depth this 12 months. His upside within the majors appears to be an excellent utility participant with the prospect to turn into a mean starter.

Jared Triolo has a few of the greatest potential on the staff, with Gold Glove protection at third base, a capability to play everywhere in the area, and energy potential on the plate. Nonetheless, he’ll miss a variety of time this 12 months after hamate surgical procedure, which may also affect his energy manufacturing within the short-term.

Indianapolis has veterans Mark Mathias and Chris Owings to offer MLB depth. Mathias was acquired in a small commerce throughout Spring Coaching, and can doubtless be one of many early-season choices the Pirates flip to in a pinch.

OUTFIELDERS

The Pirates have a variety of younger outfielders between the majors and Triple-A. Jack Suwinski and Canaan Smith-Njigba are getting a shot within the majors this 12 months, however they’ve acquired competitors in Indianapolis.

Travis Swaggerty is the standout of this group. The 2019 first rounder is the very best defensive heart fielder between Pittsburgh and Indianapolis, however has but to hit persistently, as a consequence of misplaced improvement time from accidents. He had an enormous spring, and can get a shot to remain wholesome and hit his manner into the large leagues this 12 months.

Cal Mitchell has seen time within the majors, however has but to stay on the degree. He’s acquired energy potential and a great strategy on the plate. Mitchell is on the 40-man roster, and could possibly be an early season depth possibility for the Pirates, if Swaggerty isn’t hitting.

The Pirates have just a few older gamers for depth, led by Miguel Andujar, who will doubtless be the primary short-term possibility if one of many 1B/DH/RF choices goes down. Ryan Vilade and Chavez Younger may also give Indianapolis some veteran presence within the outfield.

PITCHERS

The largest increase to the Pirates this 12 months will come from the Triple-A battery. Endy Rodriguez might be one to look at behind the plate when he ultimately arrives. The opposite standouts on this roster are prime pitching prospects Quinn Priester and Mike Burrows.

Priester is making his debut on the Triple-A degree, and might want to present his potential to dominate higher degree hitting. He’s acquired the stuff, the work ethic, and the aggressive perspective to be a prime of the rotation man. The knock towards him is that his numbers haven’t been dominant, though that’s by no means been a priority for me. Priester jogs my memory a variety of Jameson Taillon, as a consequence of his mature strategy. I’m positive that he may have gone for extra strikeouts so far, however that’s probably not improvement. That is the extent the place we must always begin to see him deal with placing all of it collectively.

Burrows acquired to this degree final 12 months, after having success in Altoona, and struggled a bit sustaining consistency. He’s acquired all the things to be a center of the rotation man or larger, and has a bonus over Priester in that he’s on the 40-man roster. Each pitchers could possibly be within the massive leagues by the tip of the season, though the early look of the MLB rotation doesn’t present an pressing want for both prospect.

If there may be an pressing want, Luis Ortiz would in all probability be the man to get the decision. Ortiz spent a while within the majors final 12 months, and has that kind of fringe profile the place he may accept being an influence reliever, or push for somewhat bit extra and attempt to be a mean or higher starter. The Pirates are protecting him within the rotation, and I’d count on him to affix Johan Oviedo as early-season rotation depth.

The bullpen depth is attention-grabbing. The Pirates are beginning to convert a few of their former beginning depth to the bullpen, with Carmen Mlodzinski and Cody Bolton main the best way. That they had 32-year-old Caleb Smith making a begin, so it’s not like both of those guys are being compelled out by different prospects. This can be a departure from earlier approaches, the place the Pirates would maintain prospects within the rotation till they have been pushed out by different prospects. Mlodzinski and Bolton each have a greater path to the large leagues focusing primarily as relievers now.

Blake Cederlind might be getting back from damage, and will ultimately pitch as depth on this roster. Yerry De Los Santos is a tough throwing reliever who has pitched within the majors, and one of many extra intriguing depth choices. Colin Selby is a tough thrower who’s on the 40-man roster. Yohan Ramirez acquired a glance within the majors final 12 months, and posted outcomes adequate to be turned to once more for depth. J.C. Flowers is a man to look at arising from Altoona final 12 months. He pitched in a swingman function in Double-A final 12 months, and had a 2.88 ERA in 68.2 innings, with a 62:24 Ok/BB.