PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Most of the season it was a group of seat fillers in AAA for the Pirates. Now, with the end of the AA season, the Bucs have some Major League hopefuls at Indianapolis.
It's only 10 games, but at least some sample size for a couple of players who have a shot at playing in Pittsburgh in 2022.
RHP-Roansy Contreras (Pirates 6th ranked prospect)
A right forearm injury almost certainly prevented him from being called up to Triple A this season. After the first two months of 2021, the 21-year-old acquired in the Jameson Taillon trade, was 3-1 with a 2.35 ERA. Opponents hitting .186 against him, WHIP 0.91 with 65 strikeouts to 11 walks and only three home runs allowed.
The Bucs won't let him go long in games, but having a couple of chances to face better hitters should benefit the right-hander before Spring Training in February.
SS Oneil Cruz (Pirates 3rd ranked prospect)
Cruz dealt with the same injury as Contreras and missed nearly a month of the season. You likely know the name, the 22-year-old ranked as the Pirates Best Power Hitter and Best Athlete in the minors coming into the season.
The 6'7", left-handed hitter has been fairly consistent this season hitting .292, .346 OBP, .536 slugging with 12 HR, 40 RBI, 15 doubles, 18 stolen bases.
Talk abounds about him switching positions, but Cruz remained at shortstop the entire season with Altoona. Even though he did practice in the outfield.
1B Mason Martin (Pirates 17th best prospect)
Over the last two seasons, the Pirates best power-hitter. The lefty-swinger tied for fourth in the Northeast League with 22 HR and 29 doubles. He was second in RBI with 75 while hitting .242. The concern is strikeouts with 161 in 112 games and a slugging percentage of .481.
A 17th round pick, Martin really came on during the last full minor league season in 2019. The 22-year-old hit .254 with 35 home runs and 129 RBI in 131 games.
OF Cal Mitchell (Pirates 18th best prospect)
He might be the best prospect you haven't heard of. The 22-year-old was just steady for Altoona making three errors in 822.2 innings with the Curve. A lefty-hitter, Mitchell .280, .330 OBP, 19 doubles, 12 home runs, 61 RBI in 108 games.
Mitchell is the Pirates second round pick in 2017 out of San Diego. He hit 15 home runs in High A his previous full season.
OF Canaan Smith-Njigba (Pirates 27th best prospect)
Also over in the Taillon trade, Smith-Njigba twice on the injured list shortening his season to 66 games (.274, .391 OBP, 11 doubles, 6 home runs, 40 RBI, 45 walks). The lefty-hitter is 6', 240 pounds with the legs of a fullback. He mainly played left field for Altoona with a .991 fielding percentage.
RHP Yerry De Los Santos
After his first season in rookie ball in 2015, De Los Santos hasn't had an ERA over three in any of the levels he's pitched. The 6'2", 215 pound righty is 23-years-old and pitched in 17.2 innings in relief with the Curve going 3-2, 2.04 ERA, 2 saves, .177 batting average against, 0.96 WHIP, 19 strikeouts, 6 walks.
