Prospect tracker

1

Nick Gonzales, 2B, Class AA Altoona: Gonzales has appeared close to a breakout at times this season, with several multi-hit games mixed in with frustrating hitless streaks. In all, he is slashing .194/.330/.301, already with 40 strikeouts in 112 plate appearances, good for a 35.7% strikeout rate.

2

Henry Davis, C, Class AA Altoona: Hard to write a script for a better start to Davis’ season. After dominating at High-A Greensboro, he was promoted to Altoona this week. In his first game there, he went 1-for-2 and bashed a line-drive, solo home run to left, adding a walk and a hit-by-pitch in the process.

3

Oneil Cruz, SS, Class AAA Indianapolis: Cruz may be breaking out a bit. After dropping to a .159 batting average on May 4, Cruz now has a five-game on-base streak. He homered on May 7, too, and though he is slashing .186/.308/.324, any progress shown is welcome news for the Pirates.

4

Quinn Priester, RHP, Class AA Altoona: Priester has still not pitched this season with an oblique injury. More concerning, Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Priester’s return has been slowed as the Pirates are making “health-related delivery tweaks.

5

Roansy Contreras, RHP, Class AAA Indianapolis: Possibly the Pirates’ most major league-ready prospect. Since going back to Indianapolis in late April, has made three starts, allowing exactly one earned run in 10 ⅓ innings. He has struck out 16 opponents in that time and allowed just five total hits as he continues to dominate minor leaguers.

6

Liover Peguero, SS, Class AA Altoona: He can’t stop hitting. Peguero, just 21 years old, is currently riding an eight-game hitting streak. He has a .924 OPS, has struck out just 20 times in 107 plate appearances and already has seven stolen bases.

7

Endy Rodriguez, C/OF, High-A Greensboro: With Davis in Altoona, Rodriguez will have more of an opportunity to develop behind the plate. Offensively, he continues to play well, too, slashing .276/.360/.490. 8

Anthony Solometo, LHP, FCL Pirates: Solometo has yet to make his professional debut, though it’s likely to come in the near future once the FCL begins in June.

9

Bubba Chandler, RHP/SS, FCL Pirates: Chandler at least got to play 11 games in the Florida Complex League last year, hitting .167 with a homer in 11 games. As for now, Chandler is in a similar boat to Solometo, currently waiting to get into official game action.

10

Matt Fraizer, OF, Class AA Altoona: Last year’s minor league breakout player continues to search for his swing in Altoona. He has scrapped together a pair of multi-hit games in the last couple of weeks, but still stands with a bafflingly low .460 OPS at the moment.