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Altoona, PA — 21-year-old starting pitcher Anthony Solometo came into the 2023 season just looking to make strides in his game. A year later he made history becoming the youngest player to make a Double AA opening day lineup. 

Solometo made the jump to Double AA Altoona last season on June 17, 2023, after dominating High-A Greensboro. Many organizations take their time with young rising stars, especially pitchers, but the Pirates felt Solometo was ready. The then 20-year-old came in and threw 51.2 innings across 12 games for the Curve, almost leading them to a playoff berth. He returned to Altoona for the 2024 season, which was not a surprise to him, but the news of his new record was.

BSB Writes writer and Altoona Curve season ticket holder Jay Staph has watched Solometo’s progress on and off the field since his June promotion and has been pleased with the results. 

“He’s ahead of the competition in almost every way. I’ve often seen him dominate hitters who are way older than him already,” Staph stated. 

The biggest question for teams when they have to decide to promote their young prospects is how this will affect the player in the long term and if the success and health of the player stay intact. One team in a similar boat is the Baltimore Orioles.

High-A Aberdeen IronBirds broadcaster Michael Marcantonini experienced then-19-year-old former first overall pick Jackson Holliday for the first half of the 2023 season. Holliday is the son of former Major League Baseball outfielder Matt Holliday and just recently made his MLB debut on April 10, 2024. At only twenty years old, many eyes started to wonder if this was the new norm. 

“The guys that move quickly through the minor leagues these days are guys with legitimate star potential that have multiple tools that can help an MLB team win games,” Marcantonini explains.  “I think organizations are willing to bet on their young stars figuring it out in the big leagues and finishing their development at the highest level, instead of keeping them down in the minors for more seasoning.”

Not all players grow up with former MLB all-stars as dads and know what a big league locker room and environment are like, but players like Solometo know what it takes to achieve a lifelong goal.

For lifelong Pittsburgh Pirates fan Ben Majcher, is just happy to know his favorite team is making strides and history with their young talent. He recognizes the difference between rushing a player and realizing when they are ready.

“I’m glad to see players so young getting a chance at higher levels. The Pirates aren’t rushing their prospects even though they are moving quickly,” Majcher exclaims.

One big reason why these young stars continue to come up quicker and quicker is from a new rule implemented before the 2023 season. The rule, Prospect Promotion Incentives (PPI), states that players eligible for Rookie of the Year votes and wins will earn their team an extra draft pick the following season. 

“The possibility of earning a compensation draft pick incentives organizations to bring prospects up quicker too. It also varies by organization and what the state of a franchise is, whether a team is a contender or in a rebuilding/retooling phase, and what their short-term and long-term positional needs are,” Marcantonini explains. 

Another reason that goes hand in hand with PPI is how fast the development and scouting of these players have changed over the last ten years or so. 

“When it comes to younger players in baseball, the skill level of these players is something we’ve never seen before.” Staph continued, “10 years ago, someone who could regularly throw 95+ in the majors was unheard of, but in today’s game, we can see that in high school. I think this is sustainable, especially since players are being scouted younger than ever before.” 

With the ever-changing game ahead, players must be aware that their time could be coming sooner than they ever expected. Teammates of Solometo just last season have already made their debuts but that does not worry Anthony in the slightest.

Five Fast Facts about Anthony Solometo

1. He is the youngest player in Double-AA history to ever make an opening night roster at 21 years, 4 months, and 3 days old. 

2. Anthony was originally committed to the University of North Carolina but had zero intention of actually going to school. It was playing professional baseball or nothing!

3. His first “big boy” purchase from his 2.8 million dollar signing bonus was a car.

4. In his senior year of high school, it took 17 ⅓ innings to let up his first hit and run. 

5. In only his third start of affiliated ball in 2022, he was involved in a no-hitter along with four other teammates.