THREE BREAKOUT CANDIDATES FOR THE PITTSBURGH PIRATES IN 2019

Which players are breakout candidates for the 2019 Pittsburgh Pirates?

Every season Major League Baseball is littered without breakout players. Each team has a player, or sometimes players, that burst onto the scene each season to become one of the key cogs on their team.

In 2018, catcher Elias Diaz, as well as pitchers Joe Musgrove, Kyle Crick, and Richard Rodriguez were all breakout players for the Pittsburgh Pirates. With the 2019 season getting closer by the day (just 86 more days until Opening Day at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati!) people will begin to ask, who are some breakout candidates for the Pirates in 2019?

Today, we will take a look at three breakout candidates for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2019. If this list comes to fruition this upcoming season, then it is one that will make both Clint Hurdle and Ray Searage happy. It could also go a long way toward answering one of the team’s biggest remaining questions as Spring Training draws closer.

PITCHER MITCH KELLER

This is an obvious one. Starting pitcher Mitch Keller is not just the Pirates’ top prospect, but he is also one of the top prospects in all of baseball. MLB Pipeline ranks Keller as the 16th best prospect in all of baseball; he is also in the top-20 for both Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus.

Keller owns an explosive fastball that can reach the high 90s. He also throws a plus curveball, has excellent command, and is working on a changeup that has the potential to be a plus pitch as well. The changeup is what will be key for Keller to help him neutralize left-handed hitters.

The 22-year-old Keller will start the 2019 season the same place he ended 2018 – Triple-A Indianapolis. Keller stared the year with Double-A Altoona before being promoted to Indianapolis in July. After a slow start with the Indians Keller finished strong posting a 3.09 ERA, 2.78 FIP, and a 23.2% strikeout rate in his final eight starts of the season.

The odds of Keller making his MLB debut prior to the Super 2 date passing in early June are very slim. And, odds are, if he does debut before that date passes then he will return to the minors at some point during the summer to prevent reaching Super 2 status.

Having Keller waiting in the wings could also impact how Neal Huntington and the Pirates tackle the remainder of the offseason. Due to confidence in Keller, it is possible the team does not sign or trade for a fifth starting pitcher but instead rolls with an opener early in the season.

The team would be better served adding another starting pitcher, but that is far from a guarantee. Keller waiting in the wings is part of the reason why it is not a guarantee.

PITCHER J.T. BRUBAKER

Earlier this offseason J.T. Brubaker was added to the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 40-man roster. This was done in order to protect Brubaker from the Rule 5 Draft. Had Brubaker not been protected, there is a good chance another team would have selected him in the Rule 5 Draft.

Last season, Brubaker made 28 starts between the Double-A and Triple-A levels. In 154 innings pitched he owned a 2.81 ERA, 3.38 FIP, a 6.8% walk rate, and a 20.3% strikeout rate across the two minor league levels.

If the Pirates do not add another starting pitcher between now and the start of Spring Training, then when the Pirates report to Bradenton, odds are, Brubaker will have an opportunity to win a spot in the team’s starting rotation. But, most likely, Brubaker will begin the 2019 season at the top of the Indianapolis Indians’ rotation along with Keller.

Barring something unforeseen, Brubaker will make his MLB debut at some point in 2019. He will have an opportunity to help the Pirates both as a reliever and as a starting pitcher this season. If the team needs a starting pitcher due to injury or under-performance prior to the Super 2 date passing, there is a good chance that pitcher would be Brubaker.

RELIEVER NICK BURDI

In the minor league portion of the 2017 Rule 5 Draft the Pittsburgh Pirates selected right-handed relief pitcher Nick Burdi from the Minnesota Twins. At the time, Burdi was recovering from Tommy John Surgery. This recovery would cost him most of his 2018 season.

In September, Burdi earned his first ever promotion to the Major League level. In 1 1/3 innings pitched Burdi allowed a home run, he walked two batters, and he struck out a pair. However, what was most important for Burdi was getting to toe the rubber at the MLB level for the first time in his life.

Burdi is a name that may not be well known among Pirate fans, especially not as well-known as Keller or even Brubaker. However, as we covered on the site earlier this offseason, he has the potential to be a factor in the team’s bullpen this season.

Burdi will likely be a member of the Pirate bullpen when the team heads to Cincinnati on March 28th. He has the makeup and tools needed to be an effective reliever at the MLB level. Now, it will be up to Burdi to put it all together and help the Pirates in 2019.