Bechtold’s Core Four: Four Pirates pitching prospects worth remembering as 2024 offseason begins

You’re aware of Bubba Chandler, but three other pitchers could soon make a significant impact at PNC Park.

Welcome to Bechtold’s Core Four, where I preview four Pittsburgh Pirates topics, events, or storylines worth following this week. In this weekly feature, we’ll discover what you would keep an eye on as the week progresses in the world of the Pirates and Major League Baseball. Let’s go.

This week’s edition focuses on four pitching prospects to keep an eye on. The Minor League Baseball season may be coming to an end, but it might be the last time these four players see that date pass by on the calendar and aren’t donning the Pittsburgh script across their chest in the bullpen or every fifth day.

Bubba Chandler

Chandler is the most obvious Pirates pitching prospect set to make his MLB debut in 2025. Barring injury, Chandler enters spring training with the most momentum of any pitcher in the organization, not named Paul Skenes. The 22-year-old righty dominated Triple-A in his last big test before the big leagues.

Chandler owns a 1.83 ERA, .183 opponent average, 12.4 K/9, and 1.04 WHIP in seven starts. He stuck out eight in 5.1 innings of work during his final start of the season and didn’t allow a run in four of his seven appearances with Indianapolis. His delivery looks so repeatable and easy. Almost effortless for Chandler.

The Pirates No. 1 prospect and third-round pick in 2021, Chandler owns a 60-grade fastball, 55-grade slider, and 50-grade curveball, according to MLB Pipeline. Chandler may forge a similar path as Jared Jones: ride a strong second half into spring and make a significant enough impact where the club frankly can’t say no.

Chandler earned Pirates Minor League Player of the Year honors in 2024. The flamethrowing righty earned a 10-7 record, 3.08 ERA, .189 opponent batting average, 1.02 WHIP, and 148 strikeouts. The Pirates have pocket aces in Skenes and Jones, but Chandler has the potential to join Mitch Keller and Luis Ortiz for a full house.

Mike Burrows

Back from Tommy John surgery, Mike Burrows made his Major League Debut on Saturday in a piggyback effort with Paul Skenes in the Pirates’ final win of the season. Burrows, 24, earned the win in his first appearance. He delivered 3.1 innings of work and allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits and three walks. He also struck out two in a 9-4 victory at Yankee Stadium, punching out Aaron Judge for his second-career strikeout.

An 11th-round pick in 2018, it’s been a long six-year journey for Burrows to reach the majors. He didn’t pitch in during an official game in 2020 due to the pandemic and missed over a year recovering from surgery after making only two starts last season. Burrows reached Triple-A Indy in 2022 and returned to the Indians on July 25. In 10 games (nine starts), Burrows struck out 45 in 37.2 innings and compiled a 4.06 ERA and 1.41 WHIP.

Control was a slight issue for Burrows this season, issuing 24 free passes in 51.1 MiLB innings. His 60-grade fastball is his best offering, but he mixes in a competitive curveball and changeup for a true three-pitch mix. Burrows could factor into the 2025 club as a reliable depth piece capable of making spot starts and potentially earning a rotation or bullpen role. Having too much depth is never a bad problem to have, and Burrows is at the top of the list of alternatives to Paul Skenes, Jared Jones, Mitch Keller, Luis Ortiz, and Bailey Falter.

Thomas Harrington

Thomas Harrington remains one of the most slept-on players in the Pirates organization. Regarded as the 95th prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline, Harrington shot through the system after being selected 36th overall in 2022 out of Campbell. The 23-year-old right-hander was arguably the system’s most consistent pitcher not named Skenes.

Harrington parlayed a 2.24 ERA in 12 starts (13 games) as a Curve into an extended tryout in AAA. He punched out 74 and delivered a .227 opponent average through 68.1 innings of work before the promotion. He is one of a few minor leagues that display an impactful four to five-pitch mix. Harrington’s fastball, slider, and changeup (55) all grade the same, but shows a cutter and curveball for good measure.

Not a high-velocity arm like Skenes, Jones, and Chandler, Harrington relies on good location and keeping hitters off-balanced. It feels like no one is talking about Harrington in the same light as others, likely because of the flair that comes with 99 mph strikeouts. The next step in the organizational-level hierarchy wasn’t much of a challenge as Harrington compiled a 3.33 ERA, 2.12 opponent average, and 0.93 WHIP as an Indian, the latter two better than his Double-A numbers despite an ERA over a run higher. Watch out for Harrington to break onto the scene similar to Jones in March and April, but farther down the road, and paint corners like Picasso to rival former foe Kyle Hendricks in his prime.

Anthony Solometo

You might need to gather yourself for next season’s “Remember me?” moment for Anthony Solometo. Commonly known as ‘Solo’ around baseball, the Pirates lefty fell off the radar with young players emerging in Pittsburgh, plus Chandler and Harrington moving up a level while he struggled with command.

Signed over-slot with savings created from picking Henry Davis No. 1 overall, the Pirates took the lengthy Solomoto and his unique delivery in the second round (37th overall). Only 21 years old, Solometo was drafted ahead of Chandler and originally pitched better than the Bucs’ current No. 1 arm. He earned a 2.64 ERA in Bradenton (A-ball) and 2.30 ERA in Greensboro (High-A) while averaging over a strikeout per inning. Things changed when Solometo reached Altoona, posting a 4.35 ERA and 2.47 opponent average in 12 starts last year following a mid-season promotion.

2024 was not kind to the Pirates’ No. 7 overall prospect. In his final three starts, Solometo mixed the good (two outings of five or more innings with one or fewer earned runs allowed), with the bad (one inning of six-run baseball). His season marks depict a bleak picture: 70.1 innings, 39 walks, 53 strikeouts, a 5.37 ERA, 2.59 AVG, and 1.52 WHIP.

Solometo missed the Spring Breakout game against Baltimore with the flu and created a domino effect of misfortune through September. His velocity dropped in the early portions of the season and resulted in a trip to the development list. Solometo spent time in Bradenton, working to regain his stuff and location halfway through the summer. He still has the potential to be a highly impactful pitcher for the Pirates in 2025 or 2026 and beyond, and this offseason is a critical one for the 6-foot-5, 220-pound lefty who grew up a Pirates fan.

All four pitchers have a chance to impact the big league club next season. Some maybe more than others, but the Pirates are dealing from a position of strength. The question is, how great of a strength will it be? These four will write the book, and it’s only their first chapter. The spring training schedule begins on Saturday, Feb. 22.