The Pirates farm system continue to improve under General Manager Ben Cherington.
According to MLB Pipeline, the Pirates now have the fourth best system in the Majors, behind only Baltimore, Seattle and Miami.
That is four spots better compared to the beginning of the season and 12 spots higher compared to last year's midseason rank when they were ranked 16.
The main reason for the dramatic jump is all of the moves that Cherington made before the season in deals that sent Joe Musgrove to San Diego for outfielder Hudson Head, pitchers David Bednar, Omar Cruz and Drake Fellows and catcher/outfielder Endy Rodriguez from the Mets in the three-way trade and Jameson Taillon to the New York Yankees for pitchers Miguel Yajure and Roansy Contreras, outfielder Canaan Smith and shortstop Maikol Ecotto.
The Pirates also maximized their draft potential signing first overall pick catcher Henry Davis under slot so they could sign other players like pitchers Anthony Solometo, Bubba Chandler and Owen Killington along with outfielder Lonnie White Jr.
The Pirates now have five players in the Top 100: Davis at 23, RHP Quinn Priester at 53, short stop Oneil Cruz at 57, infielder Nick Gonzales at 68 and short stop Liover Peguero at 93.
Other experts speculate the Pirates could have the 1st or 2nd ranked system by the end of the season or into 2022.
