PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – As the Pirates ramp up Spring Training with the first Grapefruit League game scheduled on February 24, there are a number of young players to watch. First-round pick Paul Skenes chief among them, but here are three names you may not know that could make an impact in 2024.
These trio of minor leaguers are intriguing in where they could help this season. One is a starting pitcher, another a power-hitter and a third, their best defensive catching option.
RHP Jared Jones
I realize fans may have heard of him. Jared Jones was described by many last year as the best arm in the Pirates system, before the addition of first-overall pick Paul Skenes. 6’1”, 190-pound right-hander always had big strikeout numbers, but allowed too many runs. His first non-high school season, the 2020 second-round pick struck out 103 in 66 innings, but allowed 34 earned runs. In 2022-122.2 innings, 142 strikeouts, but 19 homers and 63 runs. It started to turn as he progressed up the minor league system.
In 10 starts in AA in 2023, Jones had a 2.23 ERA, 1.08 WHIP with 47 strikeouts, 16 walks in 44 innings with only three home runs allowed. He was promoted in late June to AAA Indianapolis. It was an average start at best allowing 10 earned runs in his first three opportunities. He wouldn’t allow more than three runs in a start until a pair of six-run outings in August where he walked seven in eight innings. But in his last five starts, only one where he struggled.
In his last three starts, only two solo home runs allowed in 17.2 innings with 18 strikeouts and four walks. The 22-year-old is a non-roster invitee to Spring Training this year. He’s not likely to make the team out of camp, but with his plus fastball and slider, if he can find a consistent off-speed pitch, he’ll pitch in the majors in 2024.
OF/1B/DH Matt Gorski
The former Indiana University star was fast tracking through the Pirates organization. The 2019 second-round pick got his feet back under him after missing a year due to COVID in 2020. Gorski hit 17 homers with a .416 slugging percentage in 2021. He really got it going in 2022, he ripped through High A with 17 home runs and 37 RBI in 37 games, the slugging was an unbelievable .754%. Promoted to Altoona, he had 16 extra-base hits in 38 games before a major hamstring injury ended his season.
After a horrible April last year, Gorski started to find it again. He hit four home runs with a .309 average in May, would add nine extra base hits in June. The average wasn’t great, but Gorski hit 11 home runs over the last three months of the season, three in AAA in September. He’s going to strikeout, the on-base percentage will likely be under .300. The 6’2” right-hander might make you think of a softball player with his all-or-nothing swing, but for a team hunting power in an age of swing-and-miss, Gorski could be an option. It’s about a position, athletic enough to play centerfield in the minors, if he can figure out first base (which he has done fairly well in 34 games), 2024 is in play.
C Ari Sanchez
So much depends on how well Henry Davis does behind the plate. The Pirates claim they will use him as a catcher, its been said before. Veteran Yasmani Grandal has the potential to be the lead catcher this year. He caught 92 games with the White Sox last season, but once a defensive asset, in the last three seasons has been a double-digit negative in runs above average. Jason Delay hit for a nice percentage in limited action, but struggled throwing out runners.
Grandal is not on the 40-man roster, so a spot would have to be cleared for him. There is another catcher on the current roster, 27-year-old Ali Sanchez. The right-handed hitter is coming off his best season at the plate in his career. He hit .311 with 11 home runs and a .375 OBP and .867 OPS (granted playing in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League). That’s not what he’s known for, the Venezuelan has thrown out 43% of the runners trying to steal off him in nine minor league seasons with a .991 fielding percentage.
He spent most of his career in the Mets organization, but was also with St. Louis, Detroit and Arizona. The Bucs signed him as a free agent and will likely start the season in AAA. If there is a need for defense behind the plate, this unheralded November signing is an answer.