Ranking MLB's best 26-and-under pitchers
After ranking all 30 MLB organizations by their 26-and-under talent, here are our top-26 young pitchers.MARCH 28, 2023 • FOX SPORTS
Ji Hwan Bae - To be on Opening Day roster Bae has made the Pirates' Opening Day roster, Kevin Gorman of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review reports.
Impact Bae is set for super-utility duties as a player who can back up second base, shortstop and center field. He has good speed but will need regular playing time to make it count, and that is difficult to project at the moment.
MARCH 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Canaan Smith-Njigba - Will be on Opening Day roster Smith-Njigba will be on the Pirates' Opening Day roster, Kevin Gorman of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review reports.
Impact Smith-Njigba claimed the fourth outfielder role in Pittsburgh with a .340 batting average and 1.011 OPS through 47 at-bats of Grapefruit League play. He hit a three-run homer in the Pirates' final spring game Tuesday afternoon against the Twins. There's not much overall evidence hinting at immediate fantasy upside, but he has room to grow at age 23.
MARCH 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Jason Delay - To open as backup catcher Delay will open the 2023 season as the Pirates' backup catcher, Kevin Gorman of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review reports.
Impact The 28-year-old beat out both Tyler Heineman and Kevin Plawecki for the backup gig behind starter Austin Hedges. Delay slashed just .213/.265/.271 over his first 57 major-league games last season in Pittsburgh, and his minor-league stats aren't much better.
MARCH 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Johan Oviedo - Confirmed for rotation spot Pirates manager Derek Shelton confirmed Tuesday that Oviedo will open the season in the starting rotation, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Impact Shelton revealed that news during Tuesday's spring finale against the Twins, just as Oviedo was finishing up a strong five-inning outing during which he struck out seven hitters. The 25-year-old will be filling in for JT Brubaker (forearm) initially, but he has a chance to stick around long term if he shows well out of the gate. Oviedo posted an encouraging 3.23 ERA in seven starts down the stretch last season with the Pirates after being acquired from the Cardinals. If he can improve his command, there might be fantasy streaming appeal in favorable matchups.
MARCH 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Tyler Heineman - Reassigned to minors camp Heineman was reassigned Tuesday to the minor-league side of Pirates camp.
Impact Austin Hedges will open the 2023 season as the primary catcher in Pittsburgh, with Jason Delay backing him up. Heineman, 31, is a career .214/.279/.276 hitter in 236 plate appearances at the MLB level.
MARCH 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Yerry De Los Santos - Optioned to Triple-A level De Los Santos was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis by the Pirates on Tuesday.
Impact De Los Santos made his MLB debut last year in Pittsburgh and showed some promise before a lat strain shut him down in August. The 25-year-old has posted stellar minor-league numbers when healthy and figures to get another shot with the Pirates in 2023.
MARCH 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
