The Arizona Fall League is underway, providing a final have a look at Pirates prospects earlier than 2025 wraps. We’ll be taking periodic seems to be on the Salt River Rafters all through their season, however first, let’s break down three tales to observe.
Valdez was one of many large risers amongst Pirates prospects this yr, going from a comparatively unknown Single-A outfielder on the finish of 2024 to one in every of Double-A Altoona’s prime hitters and the group’s No. 15 prospect, in accordance with MLB Pipeline. He had a little bit of a troublesome displaying in Altoona, however received higher because the yr progressed and completed with 26 dwelling runs, 25 doubles and an .896 OPS between Altoona and Excessive-A Greensboro.
“He and the hitting coaches in Greensboro did a very good job staying grounded with what he wanted to do to get to the subsequent degree and past,” hitting improvement coordinator Jonathan Johnston mentioned in September. “Getting right here [in Altoona], he actually realized that and doubled down on the stuff that he’d been doing. He’s settled in properly.”
Valdez is eligible for the Rule 5 Draft this winter if he isn’t added to the 40-man roster, so the AFL is a last audition to indicate he’s worthy of a spot.
Thus far, Valdez has been excellent, homering in his first two video games and drawing 5 walks. It’s a style of what he can convey — however he isn’t fairly Main League prepared but and the Pirates are going to need to determine if he’s value rostering understanding he most likely gained’t be prepared till midseason on the soonest, or if they need to use the roster spot elsewhere to attempt to win in 2026. A strong displaying on this camp might make that call rather a lot simpler.
Woods ended 2024 because the No. 29 prospect within the Pirates’ system and on the upswing, getting the decision to Altoona after being a seventh-round choose in 2023. His fastball can get to the mid- to upper-90s and his slider has chunk, and he educated a part of this offseason with a crew of younger Pirates that included guys like Paul Skenes, Jared Jones and Bubba Chandler. Issues had been trying promising for him to emerge as a top quality lefty reliever.
That didn’t occur in 2025. He nonetheless had the stuff, however command points plagued him, particularly with two strikes. He did end with 9.9 strikeouts per 9 innings, however he additionally walked 4.9 per 9 and had a 5.81 ERA over 44 video games pitched. For somebody who has the stuff to be a possible leverage arm within the Majors, it was a disappointing displaying.
One poor season isn’t going to derail his profession, however he must bounce again. A visit to Arizona may very well be a very good begin in the direction of engaging in that. For the wealth of pitching prospects the Pirates have, they’re brief on energy lefties, so there’s a area of interest for him to fill. He already has one scoreless inning below his belt this fall, even when he did give up successful and a stroll within the course of.
3. Will we see extra out of an injured pitcher?
The Arizona Fall League can serve loads of functions, however on the finish of the day, it’s actually extra baseball. For gamers that missed a bit of the season as a result of accidents, that may assist even out their workload and provides them additional reps towards gamers who’re largely within the mid- to upper-levels of the Minors.
Of the 5 pitchers the Pirates despatched to Arizona, 4 missed vital time and will use the innings.
Dominic Perachi is reduce from the artful lefty ilk, mixing spin breaking pitches and a changeup to make up for velocity. He missed the primary half of the season as a result of an elbow subject and didn’t seem in a sport till July, and whereas he gained’t come near the 114 2/3 innings he threw in 2024 (he’s at 50 2/3 now), he can shut the hole a bit.
Derek Diamond gives upper-90s stuff, however had a tough go in his 13 appearances this yr, permitting 25 earned runs in 19 1/3 innings. Carlson Reed and Joshua Loeschorn each battled again points this yr, however have some very strong breaking balls that might play on the higher ranges of the Minors.
There have been challenges for all 4 this yr, however they a minimum of have the chance to complete on a very good be aware.
