Offensive intrigue rolling in at lower levels
White Jr., Jebb and more at Low-A Bradenton
BRADENTON, Fla. — The beginning of the month saw 2022 first-round draft pick Termarr Johnson promoted to High-A Greensboro, but the Bradenton Marauders have hardly been devoid of offense. In fact, the Pirates’ Low-A affiliate boasts plenty of intriguing hitters.
There’s been ample pop, as evidenced by Bradenton’s 105 home runs, second-most in Low-A. But there’s been a solid approach, with the Marauders leading all fullseason affiliates in walks
While Johnson and Josiah Sightler have since vacated LECOM Park, the Marauders have welcomed a couple key new faces in 2023 draft picks Mitch Jebb, Charles McAdoo and Garret Forrester, although Forrester is currently on the injured list.
“Figuring out a routine has been a big part of it,” Jebb said.
A speedy, contact-first infielder out of Michigan State, Jebb is hitting .310 with more walks than strikeouts to go along with eight steals in 21 games: “The past few weeks I’ve been here, I’ve been doing my best to perfect that.”
Again, Jebb isn’t the only one who warrants a second look, although we’ll circle back to his throwback swing from the left side.
The most encouraging sign out of Bradenton this season might honestly be Lonnie White Jr., the Malvern Prep outfielder who signed with the Pirates for $1.5 million in 2021.
They drafted him in the second compensatory round back in 2021, convincing him to pass on a football scholarship to Penn State.
White’s injury list has been lengthy, including thumb, elbow and hamstring issues that limited him to just 11 Florida Complex League games in 202122.
But after surgery for the first of those caused him to miss the first two months this spring, White since late June has been flashing why the Pirates took a chance on him and enticed him to sign.
The 6-foot-3, 212-pound outfielder started out by playing 17 games in the FCL, hitting .317 with an .878 OPS.
While much of that was back-loaded, with the 20year-old overcoming a slow start, White balanced his walks (11) and strikeouts (19) nicely and also racked up 10 RBIs.
Joining the Marauders on July 4, White (MLB Pipeline No. 20) has appeared in 28 games, hitting better than .260 with an OPS near .900 that includes seven doubles, a triple and five home runs. He has 21 RBIs and 27 runs scored in that span while showing that incredible speed that MLB Pipeline gives a 70 on scouts’ 20-to-80 scale.
“I’ve been hurt for a pretty long time,” White said. “Getting out of the rehab room and onto the field, I’m pretty happy with that.”
White has actually been in concussion protocol recently but is expected to return very soon, at which point he can get back to what he thinks has driven his success this season more than anything: simplifying.
Being hurt so much helped White understand how his body works.
At the same time, having some real games under his belt has allowed him to stop thinking so much, relying more on his natural ability.
“It’s been all about figuring out myself,” White said.
Speaking of finding things, it’ll be curious to see what the Pirates have found in McAdoo, a 13th-round pick out of San Jose State.
McAdoo had a six- hit game starting Aug. 8 and hit .548 with a 1.512 OPS through his first eight games.
However, the versatile McAdoo — who has played everywhere but pitcher and catcher over the past three seasons — has endured a 1for-19 slide over his next five.
“I’ve been feeling good,” he said. “They gave me an extra week to settle in here, and it really helped me ease into it. I wasn’t rushing myself.”
There have been familiar names, too. Rodolfo Nolasco leads the team in home runs (16) and RBIs (58). He’s also hitting .213 and has struck out 135 times.
Shalin Polanco, the Pirates’ prized signing during the 2020-21 international period, hit 12 homers and had a .762 OPS over 70 games, but has missed the past month with an unspecified injury.
With Johnson and third baseman Jack Brannigan gone, the most intriguing infielder left might be Jebb — and he’s a vastly different type of player.
Jebb (MLB Pipeline No. 11) has a compact stroke from the left side, one that starts with the barrel resting on his shoulder. The Saginaw, Mich., native is slightly hunched over, and it’s all about contact and getting on base.
“It’s always evolving, always changing,” Jebb, a second-round pick in July, said of his swing. “Just finding the one that works for you to get on base for the team. That’s the best thing that I can do, so I try to that.”
Jebb is very fast. MLB Pipeline considers him a 65grade runner, and he also knows what he’s doing on the bases. The aggressiveness has been noticeable thus far. It also means that Jebb — should he continue hitting — might find a longterm home in the outfield.
“I’m pretty fast,” Jebb said. “I get pretty good reads catching fly balls. In batting practice I’m pretty good at it. I just haven’t really had an opportunity to do it in games.”