It’s been 595 days since the latest minor league game, and even longer since a Pirates' affiliate stepped onto the field. But on Tuesday night, all four full-season levels began play. The minors' return brings back an important aspect of Americana and a comfortable summer backdrop while we scurry closer to the light at the end of that pandemic tunnel.
The players can finally get back some comfort as they continue to chase their dream of playing major league ball -- even if, for some, it is on an insultingly low salary. And, of course, fans in the now 120 affiliated cities will finally be able to get back to the ballpark.
It just feels good, doesn’t it?
This day might just be more anticipated for a rebuilding team like the Pirates. Sure, there was a minor league spring training where Pirates prospects got to play against other teams’ prospects, mostly the nearby Orioles in Sarasota. But those glimpses into the future -- including alternate site games and scrimmages -- simply will not measure up to the bus league experience.
The prospect development that will make or break the Buccos’ rebuild will take its first public steps Tuesday night. It’ll be the first minor league games with Ben Cherington and John Baker at the helm. After affiliates rosters were released this weekend, the first step in this long process that is a MiLB season was analyzed at length.
But before the ridiculous, amusing, family-friendly, hopeful, wonderful world of minor league baseball begins its season, here’s a crash course on what’s happening down on the farm for the Pirates.
FIVE PROSPECTS TO WATCH
Technically, Ke’Bryan Hayes still has prospect status, a threshold which most consider 130 at-bats or 35 innings pitched. His left wrist injury prevented him from breaking through that mark in April. But there’s not much that hasn’t been said about Hayes already. He’s the Pirates’ best player. Jacob Stallings and Derek Shelton made that point bluntly in each of the past two days. So, although Hayes is the clear-cut No. 1 on anybody’s Pirates prospect list, let’s give him an early graduation, and start elsewhere, and in no particular order:
• Nick Gonzales, 2B/INF, high Class A Greensboro, 21, 5-foot-10, 195 pounds
The No. 7 overall pick in the 2020 MLB draft played his first professional game in big-league spring training this March.
Gonzales’ bat-to-ball skills stood out the most during his time as an amateur. His short, lightning quick swing stood out, and it showed in his -- to borrow a phrase from Rick Eckstein -- ability to impact the baseball.
“Who doesn’t like hitting a ball really far and really hard?” Gonzales said during a Zoom call on Monday night’s broadcast during the game against the Padres. “That’s what I love. I think hitting is ultimately my favorite thing to do in baseball.”
Gonzales didn’t get great results overall this spring, but impressed with a no-doubter solo shot against a true major league pitcher in AJ Minter and a well-struck, two-run double to the right-center field gap.
Gonzales posted some insane numbers at the plate during his time at New Mexico State, but his MVP performance in the Cape Cod League in 2019 really grabbed attention. He played shortstop in college but was drafted as a second baseman and played there exclusively throughout the spring. Gonzales did some offseason defensive work with none other than Jack Wilson.
He’ll be on a roster with a number of highly ranked Pirates’ prospects in Greensboro that should really get some national attention. But among a group that will include his best friend and double player partner, Liover Peguero and Quinn Priester, the Pirates’ top pitching prospect, Gonzales might have the best shot at finishing the season at Class AA or higher.
• Quinn Priester, RHP, high Class A Greensboro, 20, 6-foot-3, 210 pounds
Although he’d been able to make his professional debut with 36 innings across two short-season levels after being drafted in 2019, Priester was really expected to hit a higher gear before the pandemic washed out last season. He’d added some muscle to his already athletic frame and was reaching closer to triple digits on a fastball to pair with his high spin rate curveball, plus slider and developing changeup.
Priester is listed among MLB Pipeline’s top 10 right-handed pitching prospects entering the minor league season. He made just two appearances in the spring, where his command seemed a little erratic. But he’ll finally be getting an opportunity to gain some momentum in a regular season, beginning on opening day for Greensboro, where he’ll be starting against Hickory. Also joining Priester, Gonzales and Peguero in Greensboro are other top right-handed pitching prospects Tahnaj Thomas and Carmen Mlodzinski.
Priester could only dream of the possibilities if this group can all reach the major leagues at some point within the next couple years together.
“I catch myself a little bit daydreaming about playoff games at PNC [Park],” Priester said. “But I definitely like to keep myself grounded just by reflecting how fortunate I am to be able to come out here and get on the mound and throw baseballs for a living.”
• Oneil Cruz, SS, Class AA Altoona, 22, 6-foot-7, 210 pounds
Cruz is one of the most fascinating prospects in all of baseball, not just in the Pirates’ system. His size and build are unlike anything the game has truly seen at the shortstop position, but Cherington was his usual brand of cryptic while stating that Cruz will continue to work at the position in Altoona. Even if his future is at another position -- right field would probably be a safe bet -- he’s lucky to be playing anywhere at all this season.
Cruz was involved in a car accident in his native Dominican Republic this past winter in which three people were killed. He returned to play winter ball in the Caribbean series and appeared in 17 Grapefruit League games just months later.
He didn’t fare so well in his third big-league spring training opportunity with the Pirates since coming over in the trade that sent Tony Watson to the Dodgers in 2017. Cruz’s latest minor league season was terrific, however. He rocketed up prospect rankings after batting .298/.356/ .475 with 27 extra-base hits over 73 at-bats and three levels of the minors.
The challenge in finding ways for Cruz to maximize his long, lanky frame is a similar task to the one the Pirates’ face with Gregory Polanco. In the spring, Eckstein explained the challenges of coaching a hitter who, as he described, “moves like Michael Jordan on a basketball court.”
“There isn't anything he can't do, and he's so exciting to watch. And a lot of what I feel strongly about when it comes to guys that talented is: give them the space to be creative,” the big-league hitting coach said. “Give them the space to use their talent in a way that they can express it, so you can see it. And then you formulate an attack toward how we're going talk about those things where he can naturally gravitate.”
The first question about Cruz will continue to be his defensive future, even well after he debuts in the majors at shortstop, should that ever happen. But it’s his bat that’s going to take him places. The 2021 season is his second turn at Class AA, where he played 35 games in 2019, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see if he gets a quick promotion, should he earn it.
• Hudson Head, OF, low Class A Bradenton, 20, 6-foot-1, 180 pounds
Since a lot’s already been said about Travis Swaggerty, the Pirates’ best outfield prospect with a chance to crack the majors this season, Head is the next outfielder worthy of the most attention.
He was part of the package to come over from the Padres in the Joe Musgrove deal. The 2019 third-rounder had played just 32 games at the Rookie level in 2019 but found a way to stand out in a loaded Padres’ farm system.
Head’s athleticism is what stands out the most on a scouting report, with a speed and defensive skill set suitable for center field and an arm strong enough to handle a shift to right if necessary. He’ll still be a tremendous work in progress, but as the Pirates have already seen from a number of athlete-first types, the bat will be what carries him to another level. Head does have some raw power, but struck out at a higher than comfortable rate in his brief minor league season in 2019.
• Brennan Malone, RHP, low Class A Bradenton, 20, 6-foot-4, 205 pounds
Another important prospect acquired via trade, Malone hasn’t seen too much time on the mound since being acquired in the Starling Marte deal with the Diamondbacks before spring training last year. He was at the alternate site in Altoona but did not pitch in 2020.
Malone possesses four pitches but his fastball-slider combination truly grade out as plus. He’s able to get the heater into the mid-to-upper 90’s and get swing and miss on his sharp-breaking slider. His curveball and changeup are still a work in progress but they’re still presently serviceable.
The No. 33 overall pick in the 2019 draft will have his first chance at pitching regular innings for a full season. He’s a big guy with power stuff, and if he shows some sense of command -- especially of the fastball and slider -- and an ability to handle a starter’s workload, he could move quickly through the system.
There are literally hundreds of other prospects that can make it to PNC Park sometime in the not-so-distant future. But the group kicking off their season Tuesday -- along with any other draft picks or prospects acquired in future trades -- will determine the success or failure of the Pirates’ rebuild.
THE AFFILIATES
Bookmark this page to check on affiliate scores every night.
• Class AAA Indianapolis Indians - Pirates’ affiliate since 2005 - Play at Victory Field
Coaching staff: Brian Esposito (manager), Joel Hanrahan (pitching coach), Joe Nunnally (hitting coach) and Gustavo Omana (assistant coach). New league: Indianapolis is one of 20 teams in the new Class AAA East and one of seven teams in the midwest division.
• Class AA Altoona Curve - Pirates’ affiliate since 1999 - Play at PNG Field
Coaching staff: Miguel Perez (manager), Drew Benes (pitching coach), David Newhan (hitting coach), Gary Green (bench coach). New League: Altoona is one of 12 teams in the new Class AA Northeast and one of six teams in the southwest division.
• High Class A Greensboro Grasshoppers - Pirates’ affiliate since 2019 - Play at First National Bank Field
Coaching staff: Kieran Mattison (manager), Ruben Gotay (hitting coach), Matt Ford (pitching coach), Blake Butler (development coach). New League: Greensboro is one of 12 teams in the new High Class A East and one of seven teams in the south division.
• Low Class A Bradenton Marauders - Pirates’ affiliate since 2010 - Play at LECOM Park
Coaching staff: Jonathan Johnston (manager), Fernando Nieve (pitching coach), Brady Conlan (coach), Jim Horner (coach). New League: Bradenton is one of 10 teams in the new Low Class A Southeast and one of six teams in the west division.
RULES CHANGES
In March, during the middle of spring training, MLB announced a series of experimental rules that will take effect during the 2021 minor league season. Each change will only occur in a specific league or level.
• Besides home plate, the bases at all Class AAA leagues will be increased in size from 15 to 18 inches.
• The shift will essentially be eliminated at Class AA in the second half of the season, as infielders must have both feet on the dirt at all times with a maximum of two players on each side of the second base bag. This rule will not take effect right away.
• The league is implementing the “step off” rule for all high Class A leagues. Meaning a pitcher has to step back off the rubber before making a pick off attempt. This should be difficult in particular on lefties, who can be deceptive in their move to first base. Failure to “disengage from the rubber” will be ruled a balk.
• All low Class A pitchers will be limited to just two pick off attempts or “step offs” during a plate appearance. They may give a third attempt, but if they don’t nab the runner, it’s ruled a balk. Unlike any of the other rule changes, the league actually mentioned in the announcement that it’s willing to go a step further and limit to one attempt per plate appearance should the experiment bring about the desired result -- which is to increase game action through stolen bases.
• Malone, Eddy Yean and Nick Garcia will get a first taste of the automatic strike zone that MLB experimented with in the Arizona Fall and independent Atlantic League. This experiment will only take place in Bradenton’s Southeast league -- which is most of the former Florida State League. The low Class A West league, which includes affiliates from the Angels, Dodgers and Giants and closely resembles the former California League, will implement time limits on pitcher deliveries, inning breaks and pitching changes.
CONTRACTION - SOME DID NOT MAKE IT
While the obvious math is that MLB shrunk the minor leagues from 160 affiliates to 120, there’s more to it than that.
• The addition of four new teams increased the amount of cities left without affiliated ball to 44 -- including the Red Sox’s Pawtucket to Worcester move, which wasn’t a product of contraction but still left a town without a team. All but eight of those 44 cities were able to land in various independent, college or MLB partner leagues.
• There were 51 teams that saw no change to level or affiliate, 21 that moved up with the same affiliate and 24 that moved down with the same parent club. Also, 20 teams found new affiliates, while eight moved up with their new parent club and three moved down.
• The final 36 teams landed among the Pioneer, Appalachian, Frontier, Perfect Game Collegiate, MLB Draft, Prospect, Maverick, American Association, Atlantic and Futures Collegiate Leagues.
WHERE TO WATCH
Unfortunately, in order to catch Greensboro on MiLB.tv this summer, it'll have to wait until the Grasshoppers hit the road. They're the only Pirates affiliate without their own streaming broadcast. Of course, the high Class A club will be at home for all but six of their 24 scheduled games in May.
