The Pittsburgh Pirates have five players in Baseball America’s new Top 100 Prospects list, including two new additions in a pair of pitchers.
The Pirates’ new top prospect is Paul Skenes, the LSU right-hander selected with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2023 MLB Draft.
Skenes is ranked sixth by Baseball America, behind Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz, Double-A shortstop Jackson Holliday (Baltimore Orioles), Double-A outfielder Jackson Chourio (Milwaukee Brewers) and a former LSU teammate in outfielder Dylan Crews (Washington Nationals).
Another former No. 1 overall pick, Henry Davis, came in at No. 28 on Baseball America’s midseason rankings. He entered the preseason rankings at No. 73. The Pirates’ preseason top prospect, catcher Endy Rodriguez, slipped from No. 22 to No. 55. Joining Skenes as another newcomer is Indianapolis right-hander Jared Jones, who entered Baseball America’s Top 100 list at No. 75. The Pirates’ top pick in 2022, second baseman Termarr Johnson, dropped from No. 49 in preseason rankings to No. 97.