MLB Pipeline came out with with their updated top 30 prospects list for the Pirates. They ranked the system, as a whole, as their number 8 farm system in all of baseball. There have been plenty of articles and analysis over the last several days covering those top 30 prospects. Ben Cherington has done a great job injecting a struggling system with talent through trades and the draft. Many of those players appear on Pipeline’s list. However, they aren’t the only reason that the Pirates are rank so high. There is a depth behind that top 30 that the Pirates haven’t seen in a while. Some of the guys outside that will make an impact with the Pirates at some point. Some as starters. Some as bench guys. Some as bullpen pieces. Here are some pitchers that are under the radar who I feel could make an impact sooner and later. While they don’t have the name recognition as a Cody Bolton or a Quinn Priester, I think you’ll know them eventually.
John O’Reilly is a 6’5″ righty who has a nice mix of pitches. With his cutter, change, and sinker, he climbed through 3 level of the minors in 2019 ending his season in AA Altoona. In a conversation I had with him a few days ago, he also said he has added a breaking ball to help get strikeouts, as well as adding a few MPH to his fastball topping out at 99. I’m assuming he starts the season in AA. He very well could end up in the majors by the end of the season if he can develop that breaking ball to be that strikeout pitch. He already gets weak contact and groundballs with what he has in his repertoire.
Austin Roberts was an 8th round pick in 2019 out of Sacramento State. Roberts skipped short-season ball and went right to low A. He appeared in 15 games and started 5 of those. I think he profiles better as a reliever. His fastball reaches mid-90s and he has great control over it. He compliments that with a change and slider with the change being the better of the two. With his command of his fastball, he could move quickly through the system. If he can improve his slider or add another “out” pitch, he could move even faster.
Braeden Ogle is maybe a little bit of a more familiar name to Pirates fans. The lefty was invited to spring training in 2021 and has pitched rather well. As one of the few left-handers in the pipeline, he should see time in the majors sooner rather than later. He might start the year in Altoona, but could move to AAA Indianapolis quickly if he stays sharp in AA. He has a mid to upper 90s fastball and a sharp slider. He’s struggled some with injuries in the past. If he can stay away from the IL, I think he might find his way to Pittsburgh this year at some point.
Shea Murray throws hard. With a fastball that hits triple digits and a slider with heavy movement, Murray has potential closer stuff. The issue with Murray is control. He walked 48 batters in 48 innings in 2019. If he can iron that out, he could move quickly through the system. Murray has seen limited action due to Tommy John, which he had shortly after being drafted in 2017. However, he did climb three levels in 2019. I could see him start the year in Altoona depending on how he progressed during the 2020 shutdown.
Osvaldo Bido should start the year in Altoona’s rotation. I think this is the year for him to establish himself as the legitimate prospect that I think he can be. He is not necessarily overpowering with his stuff, but it all plays well. He throws his fastball in the mid-90s and has good control. If he struggles as a starter, he very well could move to the pen and have success. He’s 25 years-old, so he could get a push to AAA if he has success early on. He is Rule 5 eligible, so success this year could land him on the 40-man roster.
There are plenty of others who fit the same mold as the guys I’ve mentioned. These are just a few guys who are flying under the radar, but could quickly gain recognition and a promotion to the big leagues.
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