The Pirates will call up right-handed pitching prospect Roansy Contreras tomorrow, Z101 Digital’s Hector Gomez reports (via Twitter). The 21-year-old Contreras will make his big league debut in a start against the Cubs.
Acquired from the Yankees as part of the Jameson Taillon trade package last winter, Contreras has pitched only 58 innings in his first season in the Pirates organization due to a forearm strain. He missed all of July and August recuperating, and has since pitched in four games. Just one of those games was at the Triple-A level, so Contreras is heading to the majors with only 3 2/3 innings under his belt at the highest rung of the minor league ladder.
That said, Baseball America’s Mark Chiarelli writes that “Contreras arguably raised his stock as much as any pitcher through the first half of the minor league season.” The right-hander had a 2.64 ERA and a big 35% strikeout rate over 58 combined innings at Double-A and Triple-A, and added some very solid control with a 5.55% walk rate. The big spike in strikeout rate over Contreras’ three previous minor league years with the Yankees was due to increased fastball velocity (up to 95-97mph), plus a slider that serves as a fourth pitch behind an already-intriguing changeup and curveball.
This breakthrough year has increased the optimism that Contreras can remain as a starter at the Major League level. Both Baseball America and MLB Pipeline rank Contreras as the sixth-best prospect in a strong Pittsburgh’s farm system, which speaks to Contreras’ development. The rebuilding Bucs don’t have much to lose in taking a look at Contreras in late September, as the youngster could now be on the radar to join the rotation by early 2022.
Well, will get to to see how he does in the bigs even though his time will be brief. Did extremely well in the minors this season.
“Missed most of the year with a forearm strain”…. that’s troubling. Makes me want to tune in to see him pitch before he misses the next 1.5 seasons with that forearm strain.
Yes. Have to think he has a chance at cracking the opening day roster next season if they’re calling him up to pitch in the last series of this year.
I don’t know about being on the opening day roster but should be there after he gets some starts in AAA. They probably will want to make sure his forearm strain was just that, a strain and other issues plus to give him a look at some potentially better lineups than he has seen so far. He is still just 21. Cruz, and Castro will also be up next season fairly early.
For clarification I don’t expect him to be in Pittsburgh opening day but I think they should give him an outside chance to do so depending on how he pitches in spring training. Right now Brault, Keller, Wilson, Brubaker and Yajure are the top 5 in house options assuming they keep Kuhl in the pen. I’m guessing the front office will probably add a free agent on a one or two year deal too. Contreras has better raw stuff than all of them. If he stays healthy I could see Roansy getting about 100 MLB innings next year.
Peters has pitched well and Yajure may not quite be ready.
With the likelihood of injuries to pitchers I would sign two decent starters.See if Anderson would come back.They have to show improvement in the win column next year.This has been 2 1/2 years of as bad as they have ever been.
I think next season will be the last of watching the standings just to figure out how high the team will be drafting next year. Cruz, Castro, Roansy and Swaggerty should all get chances next year to claim spots heading into 2023 with Mason Martin, Cal Mitchell and Matt Fraizer maybe as well. Then Priester, Davis, Burrows, Nick Gonzales and Peguero coming up behind them. 2023-2026 is a long way off but right now it looks pretty good.
His numbers look outstanding. I don’t want them rushing this guy along, but I don’t mind them taking a look to see where he’s at either.
Alright! The Buccos are pulling out all the stops in their pursuit to avoid 100. Problem is it won’t work. At most he’ll pitch 5 then their bullpen will destroy any lead that they might have.
They beat the Vegas number already, which is what i care about 🙂
Heck yeah! Contreras looks like a complete different pitcher compared to when he was with the Yankees given his boost in velocity. I also think he’s added more break to his slider, based on what I’ve seen of him.
Gee…I might actually watch a game now.
Trying to get people to watch a game in late september, i like it actually.
Anyways, I doubt he is on the opening day roster. That would screw his service time and cost the pirates a year of control. No way they would do that in such a hopeless situation with such an important piece. It is possible you see him next year though, maybe after an injury or something, but definitely not on opening day. Doubt you see him sent down once he’s up, this start notwithstanding.
Pirates activate Stallings, option Taylor Davis to AAA.
Hard to believe they got this arm for what Taillon is nowadays
This will be the “Archer trade” that redeems the Pirates. Yajure is the weakest of the return imo unless he gets his HR under control.
I’d love to see Escotto turn into the Shane Baz aspect of the Archer trade.
I could see it. Escotto shows solid onbase skills with great speed.
If the Pirates can work with him to cut down on the Ks and improve as a base runner (not just a burner taking bags), I think he could be a Jean segura type.
not happening by any means but it’s nice to hope
Nuttinbuttanidiot…..why not just root for another team instead of repeatedly bashing the pirates. IM SURE THE PIRATES WOULDN’T MIND
There where some of Yankees fans that were upset they let him go along with Yajure who have a better than fair chance to be solid rotation pieces and Roansy raising his stock so much I can see why.
2023 team is looking more and more promising by the day..
Of course… said that often when NH was running the show…
Good luck to another Yankee farmhand. Following Otto and Junk.