Prospects in the Pirates' 2020 player pool from the Appalachian League
As part of the new rules for the 2020 Major League season, each of the 30 organizations will maintain a 60-man player pool for the duration of the campaign. Some members of the player pool will feature on the active Major League roster while others will work out at an
As part of the new rules for the 2020 Major League season, each of the 30 organizations will maintain a 60-man player pool for the duration of the campaign. Some members of the player pool will feature on the active Major League roster while others will work out at an alternate training site in the hopes of staying fresh for a potential callup or getting in much-needed development time. The MiLB.com staff is rounding up the notable prospects in each organization’s 60-man player pool and analyzing what the new system will mean for their 2020 seasons.
The Pirates had a requirement when selecting prospects for their 60-man player pool, each player must be ready -- or nearly ready -- to contribute at the big league level should the need arise.
Mason Martin (Bristol 2018), 1B: Power, power, power. Nobody in Pittsburgh’s system -- and barely anyone in the Minors really -- has more than Martin. The No. 15 Pirates prospect went deep 35 times last year to finish three back of Reno’s Kevin Cron for the Joe Baumann Award as the Minors’ home run king. He was tied for the Sally League lead even though he only played 82 games in Greensboro before getting promoted to Bradenton. Don’t expect to see him launching baseballs into the Allegheny River in 2020, but at least a spot in the player pool is a chance to work with coaches on cutting down a strikeout rate that reached 32.3 percent in 201 Florida State League plate appearances.
Blake Cederlind (Bristol 2016), RHP: The No. 28 Pirates prospect made his way from Class A Advanced Bradenton to Triple-A Indianapolis in a breakout 2019, and his 2.28 ERA during that rise got him onto Pittsburgh’s 40-man roster. He had a good shot at an Opening Day bullpen spot, but Pirates manager Derek Shelton announced Sunday that Cederlind tested positive for COVID-19. The extent of Cederlind’s symptoms were unclear. Before he can resume activities with the Pirates, he will need 24 hours between two negative tests; to be fever-free for 72 hours and to undergo an antibody test. He could be back on the field in a week. He could be out for an extended period. It’s too early to speculate further.
Mitch Keller (Bristol 2015), RHP: Keller is in the rotation. MLB.com’s No. 39 overall prospect made 11 starts for the Pirates last year and would have lost his rookie eligibility with two more innings. It could have gone better. He posted a 7.13 ERA. But he was 23, so there’s plenty of time to envision a bright future for the 2014 second-round pick. Keller still sports a career 3.12 ERA in the Minors. He throws a fastball that reaches 98 mph with sink. His curveball and slider both improved last year. His changeup, though behind the others, is above average. How 2020 treats pitchers is a mystery at this stage, but Keller will get just as good of a chance as anyone else to take a step forward this season.
Other notables: No. 21 Pirates prospect Max Kranick (Bristol 2017) topped 100 innings for the first time last season before being shut down in August. He’s promising, but only if he’s healthy enough to pitch.