As we wind down this series, we are in the top 10 pirates prospects of the 2023 MILB season. Without a do let’s continue on! 

#10: UTIL Ji-Hwan Bae

Signed as a top prospect out of South Korea 2018, Bae was expected to be one of the best players in his international class. Bae immediately began in affiliated ball with Greensboro and hit .323 average with 38 RBIs as a lead off man. In 2020, he was sent to the Pirates alternate training site to continue his progress. In 2021, he moved up to Altoona where he continued to process hitting .278 with 31 RBIs in a similar role. Bae was seen as a top prospect for the buccos with a chance to make the big leagues in 2022 and that’s exactly what he did. He hit .289 with AAA Indianapolis and got the call to Pittsburgh on September 23 to finish off the awesome. He hit .333 average on his 33 at bats and will look to make the roster out of camp as a utility man who can play all over the diamond. 

#9: RHP Mike Burrows

An 11th round pick out of Waterford HS, Burrows was seen as a pitcher with a ton of upside that needed to be unlocked. He played affiliated ball in 2019 with the West Virginia Black Bears pitching in 11 games winning two of them with 43 strikeouts. He played with Greensboro in 2021 winning two games in 13 appearances striking out 66 and earning a 2.20 ERA. Coming into 2022, he was seen as the best pitcher on AA Altoona’s roster. He finished 4-2 with a 2.94 ERA amongst his 12 appearances before getting promoted to AAA Indianapolis this past June. Burrows struggled to adapt to AAA and found himself on the injured list towards the end of the season. He earned himself a spot on the 40 man roster in the offseason and will look to debut in 2023. 

#8: SS Liover Peguero

Signed in the summer of 2017 by the Arizona Diamondbacks in his international class, Peguero was seen as a great defender who can hit the ball well. Peguero was the main piece sent to the Pirates in 2020 in exchange for Starling Marte. He was sent to the alternate training site during Covid year to get acclimated to the bucco system. He spent 2021 in Greensboro where he played well hitting .270 with 45RBIs. His contract would then be selected in the offseason to the 40 man roster. Altoona was the next stop in the Peguero journey where he played average ball hitting .259 and bringing home 58 men. He got the call up to the big leagues for one game where he went 1 for 3 and a walk. Peguero was recently sent down from big league camp but don’t be surprised to see his name called up mid season for the buccos. 

#7: RHP Bubba Chandler

A two way, two sport athlete coming out of Georgia, Chandler could have been a 1st round pick but he was not sure whether he would go the baseball path. He committed to Clemson University to play both football (quarterback) and baseball. After a hefty bonus and a verbal commitment for him to play both the field and the mound, Chandler signed with the Pirates after he was drafted in the 3rd round in 2021. Chandler hit affiliated ball in 2022 as a two way player but succeeded more as a pitcher than a hitter. From the batting side he only hit .196 compared to his pitching where he went 1-1 with a 2.61 ERA striking out 60. The Pirates told Bubba they will only use him as a pitcher in 2023 and will maybe let him go back to hitting after they see the progression they want from him. Bubba is slated to start at High A Greensboro as he looks to become the next Shohei Ohtani. 

#6: LHP Anthony Solometo

A 2nd round pick out of New Jersey, Solometo could have been a 1st round pick but his wacky sidearm windup fell for the Pirates to steal. Solometo dominated Bradenton A ball this year going 5-1 with a 2.64 ERA striking out 51 men amongst his 13 appearances. He stands 6’5 and throws a hard fastball. He will most likely head to Greensboro for 2023 where he will be in the rotation with the aforementioned Bubba Chandler above. Solometo has all the makings of a future ace as he continues his journey. 

Stay tuned for the final prospects edition with #1-5!