Mitch Jebb joined the Pittsburgh Pirates with some fanfare as a top draft pick.

Following a great three-year career with the Michigan State Spartans,

Jebb was taken by the Pirates in the second round of the 2023 draft.

Last season in his debut season as a professional baseball player,

Jebb provided the Pirates with just what they needed.

Jebb, who bats unconventionally from the left side of the plate,

is considered a high-contact batter who can reach base despite having little raw power.

He played for the Low-A Bradenton Marauders in 2023,

hitting.297 with a.382 on-base percentage and a.780 OPS in 34 games.

He was also successful in 11 of 12 stolen base attempts to begin his career.

Jebb’s skill on the basepaths continued into 2024 with the High-A Greensboro Grasshoppers,

where he finished tied for fifth in the South Atlantic League with 43 stolen bases and was only caught eight times.

Although his ability to steal bases translated easily up a level in the system,

the rest of his offence largely collapsed;

he still carried a respectable 11.3% walk rate,

but he hit.253 with a.696 OPS in what is known as a hitter’s paradise.

The key will be whether Jebb can get to base quickly enough to use his exceptional speed,

which is a true weapon on the bases.

At the very least, his excellent season finale is encouraging,

but his.340 BABIP during that stretch also suggests that some luck may have played a role in the positive outcomes.

Jebb will be one step closer to the major leagues if he begins the season in Double-A the following year.

However, he must continue to use his finest quality while demonstrating that his success in the last two months of his season wasn’t an anomaly.

Pirates Top 30 Prospects No. 18: Billy Cook a Defensive Gem

Billy Cook, a 5-foot-11, 205-pound outfielder who also played three of four infield positions during his time in the minor leagues,

was one of only three players in Pittsburgh Baseball Now’s Top 30 Pirates prospects to actually make his Major League debut.

Cook slashed.225/.225/.449 with two doubles, three home runs,

and.6 bWAR accumulated as a September call-up this past season, playing in 16 games for the Buccos.

Cook’s performance at the plate immediately improved after joining the Pirates,

as he hit seven doubles and five home runs in 30 games for the Indianapolis Indians.

Cook’s quick effect was a welcome change for a team like Pittsburgh,

which has failed to develop hitting prospects and maximise the performance of its present big league bats throughout the tenure of the current front office regime.

During his brief stint in the major leagues, he made a number of highlight-reel-worthy plays on the field,

recording two assists and a double play in just 12 games.

His speed and arm power make him a formidable defender.

No. 23 in the Pirates Top 30 Prospects: Josh Hartle Attempts to Get Back on Track

Josh Hartle was formerly thought to be a possible first-round pick,

but after a difficult junior season, the Pirates selected him in the third round out of Wake Forest in 2024.

The 6-foot-5, 210-pound left-handed pitcher Hartle started Friday for the

Demon Deacons in 2024 after recording a 2.81 ERA as a sophomore for a squad that advanced to the College World Series.

Wake Forest started the previous season as the top team in the country,

but they and Hartle both had trouble maintaining that standing.

As conference play got underway,

Hartle lost his position at the top of the rotation after recording a 5.79 ERA with 81 strikeouts in 74.2 innings.

He didn’t participate in either of Wake Forest’s two games that earned them a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

As a result, Hartle was selected with the 83rd overall choice by general manager Ben Cherington in the third round.

This Pirates draft class has a pattern: they also undervalued pitcher Matt Ager of UC Santa Barbara.

Hartle uses a slider, which is his best product, a changeup, and a low 90s fastball and high 80s cutter.

Hartle’s command was praised before 2024; it was still rated at a 55 on MLB’s 20-80 scale.

After joining Pittsburgh, Hartle made one appearance with the Bradenton Marauders,

roughing up for four runs (three earned) in 1.2 innings.

The Pirates have a solid track record of developing pitchers in recent years,

and the big lefty has a lot of promise despite the difficult season.

Hartle is a guy to keep an eye on whether they keep him in the bullpen or prepare him for a rotation place.

Pirates No. 24 in the Top 30 Prospects: Large, Strong Blanco, Tony Jr.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are hopeful that Tony Blanco Jr., a 6-foot-7,

243-pound prospect, can develop into a player like Aaron Judge in the future.

It’s entertaining to compare the strong Blanco to one of the biggest bodies in the sport, even when those expectations are high.

Blanco has a physique that translates to effortless power despite only being 19 years old.

The huge right-handed hitter only played 30 games in the Florida Complex League this season due to two different spells on the injured list,

but when he did play, Blanco shown his ability to impact the ball.

Ten of his 29 hits this season—five doubles, one triple, and four home runs—went for extra bases.

In addition to his outstanding.305 batting average and.385 on-base percentage,

he finished with a.505 slugging percentage and a.200 ISO.

Blanco was using his power potential for the first time in his short minor league career.

Blanco had his first prolonged opportunity in 2023 while playing in the Dominican Summer League, when he hit five home runs in 40 games and slashed.235/.325/.397.

Blanco will need to reduce strikeouts as he moves up the Pirates’ organisation,

but he made progress last season.

He reduced his strikeout percentage to 28.4% in 2024 after striking out in a staggering 38% of his plate appearances in 2023.

Blanco’s walk rate is a good 10.2% for his career.

Blanco’s primary position on the field has been first base,

where he has a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in 25 games.

However, because evaluators are doubtful of his defensive skills,

he spent more time as a designated hitter this season.

However, the Pirates are counting on Blanco’s strength to help them reach the major leagues.

Blanco will follow in the footsteps of his father, Tony, who played 56 games with the Washington Nationals in 2005,

if he does make it to the Major Leagues.

Blanco’s father hit his first and only home run in Major League Baseball eight days after Blanco was born.

It will be some time before Blanco has to consider his first big league home run,

as he has not yet made it to Bradenton.

However, Blanco might be in charge of a lot of long balls at PNC Park in the future if the Pirates could help him reach his full potential.