Welcome to our 2022 team top prospect rankings series. Eric Cross and Chris Clegg will go through all 30 Major League organizations, continuing today with their Pittsburgh Pirates Top Prospects for dynasty leagues. In each installment of this series, you’ll find the top-20 rankings from both Eric Cross (AVG) and Chris Clegg (OBP) along with one prospect each that they’re targeting heavily in dynasty leagues right now. Hopefully, these rankings will help you in your dynasty leagues, and maybe give you some new trade targets to consider.
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Pittsburgh Pirates Top Prospects
| Eric Cross (AVG) | Rank | Chris Clegg (OBP) |
|---|---|---|
| Nick Gonzales (2B) | 1 | Nick Gonzales (2B) |
| Oneil Cruz (SS) | 2 | Oneil Cruz (SS) |
| Henry Davis (C) | 3 | Henry Davis (C) |
| Roansy Contreras (RHP) | 4 | Roansy Contreras (RHP) |
| Quinn Priester (RHP) | 5 | Liover Peguero (SS) |
| Liover Peguero (SS) | 6 | Quinn Priester (RHP) |
| Lonnie White Jr. (OF) | 7 | Lonnie White Jr. (OF) |
| Travis Swaggerty (OF) | 8 | Travis Swaggerty (OF) |
| Canaan Smith-Njigba (OF) | 9 | Endy Rodriguez (C) |
| Matt Fraizer (OF) | 10 | Carmen Mlodzinski (RHP) |
| Carmen Mlodzinski (RHP) | 11 | Jared Jones (RHP) |
| Bubba Chandler (RHP/SS) | 12 | Anthony Solometo (LHP) |
| Endy Rodriguez (C) | 13 | Ji-Hwan Bae (2B/SS) |
| Diego Castillo (2B) | 14 | Matt Fraizer (OF) |
| Tony Blanco (OF) | 15 | Bubba Chandler (RHP/SS) |
| Brennan Malone (RHP) | 16 | Diego Castillo (2B) |
| Maikol Escotto (2B) | 17 | Maikol Escotto (2B) |
| Jared Jones (RHP) | 18 | Mike Burrows (RHP) |
| Ji-Hwan Bae (2B/SS) | 19 | Canaan Smith-Njigba (OF) |
| Anthony Solometo (LHP) | 20 | Cal Mitchell (OF) |
Cross’ Prospect to Target: Diego Castillo
This farm system is incredibly deep right now and I could’ve gone with a half-dozen different players here. But I settled on a player that can help you in the short-term that also has a solid chance of sticking long-term in this Pirates infield. Diego Casillo was acquired from the Yankees last season and hit well across two levels. In 105 combined games between Double-A and Triple-A, Castillo slashed .278/.355/.487 with 24 doubles, 19 home runs, nine steals, and a .209 ISO. This coming after five mostly lackluster seasons in the Yankees system before the lost 2020 COVID season.
Castillo doesn’t stand out in any one area offensively, but he could wind up with an above-average hit tool and average or slightly above-average power and the ability to add in 5-10 steals annually as well. In Double-A last season, Castillo recorded an 84.8% contact rate with Somerset (NYY) and 91.8% with Altoona (PIT) before a 75.9% mark in just 18 Triple-A games. Castillo also flashed a bit more power this spring with six homers in 38 PA. He’s getting a chance to play with Pittsburgh right now and could hold down the keystone until Nick Gonzales is ready sometime in 2023. At that point, Castillo could move into a super-utility role, backing up 2nd, 3rd, and shortstop.
Clegg’s Prospect to Target: Endy Rodriguez
If you have listened to the Fantrax Toolshed podcast, you know I am a fan of Endy Rodriguez. He has been flying under the radar despite being a player who has consistenly improved. Rodriguez was drafted by the Mets but traded to the Pirates in the three-way deal that sent Joe Musgrove to San Diego. Rodriguez his .294 last season with a .380 OBP in 377 at-bats. Rodriguez also hit 15 home runs and struck out just 17.7 percent of the time.
Rodriguez will likely not stick at catcher as Henry Davis is the Pirates catcher of the future, but he is versatile enough to play first base or left field. He is highly athletic and good from both sides of the plate as a switch hitter. He has great bat speed and produces high exit velocities. Rodriguez posted the lowest swinging strike rate of any hitter in his Low-A league. He has continued to progress at the plate and in the field and there is no reason to think that cannot continue.
Rodriguez continues to fly under the radar in dynasty leagues and is a great player to go out and acquire via trade. Rodriguez could also still be sitting on some waiver wires depending on how deep the league is. He could be a top-100 prospect by year’s end.
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