While the Pirates could send a pair of Major League hitters – Adam Frazier and Bryan Reynolds -- to the All-Star game in Denver next month, they are definitely sending a pair of minor-leaguer pitchers.
Right-handers Roansy Contreras and Quinn Priester will represent the organization at the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, which will take place at Coors Field on July 11.
Contreras, 21, has been the breakout pitcher in the Pirates’ farm system so far this year. He has carved up hitters for Class AA Altoona, recording a 3-1 record and an ERA of 2.00 over his first eight starts, striking out 64 over 45 innings.
Contreras was one of four players the Pirates acquired from the Yankees in the Jameson Taillon trade this offseason. At the time, most reports projected him to be a middle of the rotation pitcher, but he has turned heads with a mid-90s fastball, plus changeup and high spin breaking pitches.
In their most recent update this week, Baseball America included Contreras on their top 100 list, putting him at No. 99.
Priester, 20, was the Pirates’ first-round draft pick in 2019 and is universally considered their top pitching prospect. He impressed scouts and analysts in the instructional league last year and made the jump onto everyone’s top 100 list.
Baseball America currently has him as the 58th best prospect in baseball.
After that strong instructional league performance and a cameo at the alternate site last year, the Pirates felt confident enough to have Priester skip a level and start the season in Class High-A Greensboro.
While he was hit early, he has settled in of late, and is 3-3 with a 3.32 ERA over his nine starts, striking out 37 batters over 38 innings.
The seven-inning game will start at 3 p.m. Eastern Time and will be broadcast on MLB Network and MLB.com.
The MLB Amateur Draft will take place later that day at 7 p.m. Eastern.