Headlined by Oneil Cruz, Pirates spread 6 top-100 prospects across minor league affiliates

Kevin Gorman
Thursday, April 7, 2022 12:57 p.m. | Thursday, April 7, 2022 12:57 p.m.

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Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review

Pirates infielder Oneil Cruz smiles during a workout on Monday, March 14, 2022, at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Fla.

Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review

Pirates catcher Henry Davis plays against the Yankees on March 18, 2022, at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Fla.

Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review

Pirates pitcher Quinn Priester works out in the bullpen at Pirate City in Bradenton.

Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review

Pirates infielder Nick Gonzales takes batting practice on Tuesday, March 15, 2022, at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Fla.

When the Pittsburgh Pirates announced the rosters for their four minor league affiliates, their six top-100 prospects as ranked by Baseball America were spread across the top three levels.

Shortstop Oneil Cruz (No. 14) and right-hander Roansy Contreras (80) will start the season at Triple-A Indianapolis, middle infielders Nick Gonzales (49) and Liover Peguero (78) and right-hander Quinn Priester (88) at Double-A Altoona and catcher Henry Davis (41) at High-A Greensboro.

Cruz, ranked the Pirates’ No. 1 prospect by Baseball America, headlines Triple-A Indianapolis along with Contreras and outfielder Travis Swaggerty, the first-round pick in 2018. Indianapolis also has first baseman Mason Martin, infielders Ji-hwan Bae and Rodolfo Castro and outfielders Cal Mitchell, Jared Oliva and Canaan Smith-Njigba.

The Young Bucs take the field this week! pic.twitter.com/30CLDsSW6U

— Young Bucs (@YoungBucsPIT) April 7, 2022

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Top-five Pirates prospects Gonzales, the No. 1 pick in 2020, and Peguero lead the Double-A Altoona Curve. The Curve includes three members of the Pirates’ 40-man roster in Peguero, infielder Tucupita Marcano and outfielder Jack Suwinski.

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The Curve pitching staff features top-10 Pirates prospects in right-handers Priester (No. 6), the No. 1 pick in 2019, Mike Burrows (No. 8) and Carmen Mlodzinski (No. 10), as well as No. 18 Tahnaj Thomas.

Altoona’s roster also features the Honus Wagner award winner as minor league player of the year, outfielder Matt Fraizer, and Gold Glove third baseman Jared Triolo. Two players acquired from Miami in the Jacob Stallings trade, right-hander Kyle Nicolas and outfielder Connor Scott, also will play for the Curve.

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Davis, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2021 MLB Draft and No. 2 Pirates prospect, headlines the roster for High-A Greensboro and is joined by catchers Abrahan Gutierrez and Endy Rodriguez, infielder Maikol Escotto, right-handers Jared Jones (No. 9) and Matt Garcia and reliever Adrian Florencio, the Bob Friend Award winner as minor league pitcher of the year last season.

A Bethel Park graduate, right-hander Justin Meis, leads a Low-A Bradenton roster that includes catcher Wyatt Hendrie and international signees Po-Yu Chen, Tsung-Che Chung, Alexander Mojica and Rodolfo Nolasco.