Anthony Solometo, a 21-year-old southpaw from Vorhees, New Jersey has been invited to spring training with the Pittsburgh Pirates as a non-roster invitee marking him one of the youngest players at this year’s camp. The funky left-handed pitcher made it up to Double-AA Altoona in his 2nd affiliated season. He has now found himself as the 5th-ranked left-handed pitcher and 82nd-ranked prospect across all of Major League Baseball.

Fresh off a development camp in Bradenton, Florida, he found out the news, “They told me in person at camp, they told me that I’ve been slacking and that we need to have a meeting so I go in and they asked if I had a hot date and was busy on Valentine’s Day,” Solometo told me. “I said no I’m available and Hop (Josh Hopper, Pirates Pitching Development Coach), said good because you’re going to have to be at big league camp.”

Solometo will be the youngest pitcher at the Major League camp and second youngest only to Infielder Termarr Johnson, age 19. Despite his age, Solometo has shown he’s wise beyond his years and now projects to make his MLB debut at some point this season.

With a bit of uncertainty in the Pittsburgh Pirates rotation going into 2024, guys like Solometo have a shot to make the big league roster or a chance at it throughout the season. “The confidence the team has shown but I’m not on the (big league) club yet which means I haven’t opened their eyes fully and proved to myself that I’m ready for it,” he confidently replied. “That just continues to feed the machine and drives me to be the best I possibly can. Earn my spot and my attention and my rank in the organization’s eyes.”

Not only has he exceeded expectations on the field but off the field he has proven to be able to handle the fame and pressure of the hype. “I’ve gotten to see how truly incredible of a person he is as a whole,” BSB Writes writer Jay Staph told me. “He’s someone you can joke around with, be serious with, and just overall chill and have a good time with. He’s so deserving of everything that’s coming his way. His work ethic, amazing personality, and more have proved him deserving of all of the recognition, and the eventual opportunity to pitch in the MLB.”

Staph has seen firsthand in Altoona, Pennsylvania, for the majority of last season live what Solometo has brought to the table including his raw pitch ability, his elite ability to control the location of his fastball, and his slider and changeup mixups in his sequences. “From what I’ve seen, he’s genuinely one of the more impressive lefties in all of minor-league baseball,” Staph emphasized. “He’s not afraid to attack hitters and control the zone. It’s especially impressive considering his control, slider, and more have gotten some of the best individual grades from many publications. Solo’s sheer ability to control counts and attack hitters will be a huge quality at the next level, as fear is one of the main things rookies struggle with within the MLB right away. With his raw stuff on top of that, it’s a dangerous combination.”

As Solometo competes for a spot in this year’s and future years rotation with top prospects such as Paul Skenes (number 1 prospect), Jared Jones (number 3 prospect), Bubba Chandler (number 5 prospect), amongst many others, his ideology does not change on one simple goal he has said he was a kid. “I just couldn’t believe the start of opportunity for me to achieve my lifelong dream has now officially started in a way and I’m just so beyond thankful,” Solometo exclaimed. “I want to be the guy.”