Pirates to call up pitching prospect Quinn Priester

Pittsburgh Pirates pitching prospect Quinn Priester will be called up to make his major league debut Monday against the Cleveland Guardians, multiple outlets reported Saturday.

Priester, 22, was picked 18th overall in the 2019 draft and had been Pittsburgh's top pitching prospect until LSU right-hander Paul Skenes was drafted No. 1 overall earlier this month.

In each of the past three years, MLB Pipeline has ranked Priester within its preseason top-100 prospects lists. The right-hander is currently the Pirates' No. 4 prospect and No. 54 overall, per Pipeline.

In his first full season at Triple-A Indianapolis this year, Priester is 7-3 with a 4.31 ERA in 18 starts. He has struck out 84 batters and walked 35 in 87 2/3 innings.

He was pulled from his start Friday night after pitching one scoreless inning.

The Pirates will need to make further moves to open a spot for Priester on the 40-man roster.