Pirates Prospects Move Up MLB Pipeline Top 100
PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Pirates had some of their prospects move up the MLB Pipeline Top 100 list ahead of the Arizona Fall League.
Right-handed pitcher Bubba Chandler came in at No. 15, shortstop/outfielder Konnor Griffin ranked at No. 50, second baseman/shortstop Termarr Johnson is No. 75 and right-handed pitchers Braxton Ashcraft and Thomas Harrington at No. 85 and No. 91, respectively.
Moving on up ⬆️ pic.twitter.com/JMLPm6VzPu
— Young Bucs (@YoungBucsPIT) October 4, 2024
Chandler made the fourth largest jump of any prospect, moving up 23 spots from No. 38. He made a large jump of 52 spots to No. 41 back in August and his recent performances serve as the reason for his high ranking.
He played most of 2024 in Double-A with the Altoona Curve, starting 16 of 19 games, a 6-7 record, one save, one shutout. He also had a 3.70 ERA in 80.1 innings pitched, allowing 55 hits, 33 earned runs and 26 walks, while making 94 strikeouts and holding hitters to a .192 batting average, along with having a 1.01 WHIP.
Chandler earned a promotion to Triple-A with the Indianapolis Indians on Aug. 8 and pitched even better than he did in Double-A.
He finished with 4-0 record in seven starts, a 1.83 ERA in 39.1 innings pitched, allowing just 26 hits, eight earned runs, two home runs and 15 walks to 54 strikeouts. He held opposing hitters to a .183 batting average and a 1.04 WHIP.
The Pirates took Griffin with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft out of Jackson Preparatory School in Jackson, Miss., signing him to a $6,532,025 bonus, which is above slot for No. 9 overall at $6,216,600.
Griffin, who bats right-handed, had a .559 batting average, with 66 hits in 118 at-bats, along with 39 RBIs, 13 doubles, nine home runs and four triples as a senior. He also only struckout 10 times, while earning 47 walks and got hit by pitch five times.
He also showed his prowess in the infield, with a .932 fielding percentage, turning nine double plays and only committing six errors. He also plays in the outfield too, giving the Pirates a number of positions they can put him at to succeed.
The Pirates took Johnson No. 4 overall in the 2022 MLB Draft out of Benjamin Elijah Mayes High School in Atlanta. Johnson chose a $7,219,000 signing bonus with the Pirates over his commitment to Arizona State.
He spent most of 2024 with the Greensboro Grasshoppers at High Single-A, slashing .238/.372/.712, along with 17 doubles, a triple, 13 home runs, 46 RBIs,20 stolen bases and 78 walks to 105 strikeouts.
The Pirates promoted the 20-year old to Double-A on Aug. 27 and he played in 14 games for them, slashing .229/.316/.396, with two doubles, two home runs, eight RBIs and seven walks to 11 strikeouts.
Johnson will join eight other Pirates prospects for the Arizona Fall League this October, where he'll look to get more experience heading into 2025.
Ashcraft started 2024 with Altoona, starting 10 of 11 games, a 2-2 record, a 3.69 ERA in 53.2 innings pitched, 63 strikeouts to eight walks, held opposing hitters to a .244 batting average and had a WHIP of 1.10.
He received a promotion to Indianapolis on June 11 and dealt with some minor injuries, but pitched well. He had four starts in five appearances, just one earned run in 19.1 innings pitched for a 0.47 ERA, 14 strikeouts to four walks and 15 hits, an opposing batting average of .205 and a WHIP of .098.
Harrington started 12 of 13 games this season for Double-A Altoona this season, with a 2-2 record, 2.24 ERA in 68.1 innings pitched, 74 strikeouts to 10 walks and an opposing batting average of .227 prior to his call up.
He earned a call-up to Triple-A Indianapolis on Aug. 4 and has pitched well for them so far. Harrington started eight games, had a 5-1 record, 3.33 ERA in 46.0 innings pitched, 38 strikeouts to eight walks and held hitters to a .212 batting average.
