Impressions From Pirates Spring Training: Part 3

What’s Gotten Into Bae?

Bae has looked like a new player in the Pirates’ spring camp. As of Wednesday’s off-day, he’s 10-for-22 with three doubles, a home run, and two steals in four attempts. He’s seen most of his action in the outfield, where he’ll likely play in the majors. He’s not needed at second base. The number of second basemen in camp is approximately equal to half the population of Fargo, North Dakota. In the regular season, Bae’s been worth five Fielding Runs Above Average in the outfield for his major league career.

So, back to the original question: What’s gotten into Bae? Seems Tommy Pham has gotten into Bae. A new addition to the Pirates, the veteran Pham is on record as intending to push his younger teammates to get the most of their talents, and Bae has been one of the Pirates on the top of his list. As a result, Bae’s game looks different. After striking out in 29.6 percent of plate appearances in 2024, he’s not chasing pitches in the spring games. He continues to play spectacular outfield defense. Time will tell whether he’s done enough to make the big squad. So far, he’s still in the Pirates major league spring camp. Another left-handed-hitting center fielder, Jack Suwinski, who has less speed but more power, is also making a strong play.

Will a Young Prospect Pitcher Make the Team After All?

And will that pitcher be right-handed starter Tom Harrington? The Pirates have several top pitching prospects projected to reach the majors in 2025. It was anticipated (at least by me, if nobody else) that another Jared Jones would emerge from the Pirates spring camp and surprise the baseball world by making the team, as Jones did last year. It was further anticipated (at least by me) that that pitcher would be the Pirates’ No. 1 prospect, Bubba Chandler. Alas, after being named to Friday’s Spring Breakout Team, Chandler was reassigned to the minor league camp.

Two other right-handed pitching prospects, Braxton Ashcraft and Harrington, were left off the Spring Breakout roster. For good reason, it was thought, that reason being they still had a shot at breaking camp with the Pirates. Ashcraft was since sent to the minor league camp. Harrington remains in the Pirates’ spring training camp.

Thomas Who?

Harrington (first name Tom on Baseball Reference, Thomas elsewhere) doesn’t have electric stuff like Paul Skenes, Jones, Chandler, or Ashcraft. Nor does he throw as hard. All he does is get batters out. Previously, he was discussed as a potential back-end starter in the bigs. Now he’s the Pirates’ No. 3 prospect, having jumped over highly regarded 2022 No. 1 draft pick Termarr Johnson.

That’s what happens when a guy has a year like Harrington had in 2024. Harrington started the season at Single-A Bradenton and leaped to Double-A Altoona and then Triple-A Indianapolis. At the three levels combined, he was 7-3 with a 2.61 ERA. A couple of figures cause one’s jaw to drop: his 0.963 WHIP and 1.5 walks per nine innings.

It’s because he knows how to pitch. His fastball averages just 92.5 mph, but he keeps hitters off balance by mixing in a curveball, sweeper, splitter, and cutter. According to his prospect report at MLB.com, he was “one of the best in minors in strike percentage in 2024.”

Harrington has pitched in only two spring exhibition games thus far, both times in relief. He’s given up one run on two hits and two walks in three innings while recording two strikeouts. He doesn’t think he’s going to go north with the team. Yet, he’s still in the Pirates major league spring training camp. We’ll see.