PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It's the first time as a full season professional for many and features some of the most intriguing talent in the Pirates system. It's some of the return for Jameson Taillon, Josh Bell, Starling Marte and Joe Musgrove. Here are some players to watch for in 2021 in Low A Bradenton.
RHP Eddy Yean
A key part of the Josh Bell trade to Washington, The 6'1", righty came was 2-3, 43 strikeouts, 17 talks and a 3.50 ERA in 10 starts in the minors in 2019. The 19-year-old's fastball will reach into the upper 90s.
-RHP Brennan Malone
Another pitcher yet of drinking age who came over in a trade, the 20-year-old Malone was part of the return for Starling Marte. Malone has only 7 games in professional baseball, 8 innings giving up 4 runs on 4 hits with 8 strikeouts to 5 walks. Malone was the 33rd overall pick in 2019, holding a plus fastball.
RHP Nick Garcia
A converted infielder became the team closer at Division 3 Chapman going 9-0 in 30 games in 2019. Garcia had 12 saves with 82 strikeouts and 14 walks in 56 innings. The 6'4", 215 pound lefty started five games in 2020, 27 innings, 7 earned runs, 7 walks and 36 strikeouts. He did hit 5 batters and 5 wild pitches. Garcia used as a reliever in the Cape Cod League in 2019, 1-3, 3.18 ERA.
RHP Tahnaj Thomas
He's 6'4", 190 pounds with a fast ball that reached 100 mph. Thomas is a remnant of the Jordan Luplow and Max Moroff trade to Cleveland for Erik Gonzalez. The 21-year-old righty was 2-3 in rookie ball in 2019 with a 3.17 ERA striking out 59 and walking 14 in 48.1 innings.
C Endy Rodriguez
At 20 years-old Rodriguez already has two seasons in the minors, although this will be his first season in full-season professional baseball. Rodriguez hit .294 with a .411 on-base percentage and .921 OPS hitting a pair of homers, 14 doubles, 14 RBI and 15 walks. The switch-hitter came from the Mets in the three-team Joe Musgrove trade. He shows raw power and can play first base and in the outfield.
3B Alexander Mojica
A 6'1", 195 pound right-handed hitter, Mojica hit .351 in the Dominican Summer League in 2019 with 8 homers and drove in 46 in 55 games while striking out 34 times and walking 37. The OPS was 1.048. He signed for a $390,000 bonus.
OF Hudson Head
The Pirates sixth ranked prospect will play his first full pro season after a .283 average in 32 games in rookie ball. The lefty-hitter with 7 doubles, 3 triples and a homer driving in 15. The 20-year-old centerfielder came from San Diego in the Joe Musgrove trade.
OF Sammy Siani
A competitive balance pick in 2019, Siani signed out of high school in Philadelphia. The left-handed hitter played in 39 games with a .241 average, 3 doubles, 3 triples, no homers and 5 stolen bases. Siani did have a .372 on-base percentage and also projects as a centerfielder.
Wild Card
OF Will Matthiessen
He's a 6'7" right-handed hitter taken in the sixth round out of Stanford in 2019. Matthiessen hit .220 in the New York/Penn League in 2019 playing in 45 games with 4 homers, 19 RBI. The numbers weren't impressive, but it's been two years to fill out his frame and wonder what improvements he's made.
