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Season storyline: Quinn Priester rejoins Pirates

Quinn Priester makes MLB return Former top prospect called up to majors following injury to Marco Gonzales   The Pittsburgh Pirates’ rotation to start the year he been a welcome surprise. Between Martin Perez holding a 2.55 earned run average (ERA) and Jared Jones setting the baseball world on fire to start his career, the rotation has kept them in most games this season. After Marco Gonzales landed on the injured list because of a left forearm muscle strain, Quinn Priester will be the next man up to continue the success. Priester’s first major league stint was not what Pirates’ fans had been hoping for. The former top prospect had lost some of his velocity and his good breaking stuff was not enough to make up for a fastball that was too hittable. The strikeouts were also not enough to make up for how hard he was getting hit in 2023. Albeit in a small sample size, Priester may be on the verge of a resurgence after working on those problems. After being drafted at ...
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Season storyline: Quinn Priester rejoins Pirates

Quinn Priester makes MLB return

Former top prospect called up to majors following injury to Marco Gonzales

 

The Pittsburgh Pirates’ rotation to start the year he been a welcome surprise. Between Martin Perez holding a 2.55 earned run average (ERA) and Jared Jones setting the baseball world on fire to start his career, the rotation has kept them in most games this season.

After Marco Gonzales landed on the injured list because of a left forearm muscle strain, Quinn Priester will be the next man up to continue the success.

Priester’s first major league stint was not what Pirates’ fans had been hoping for. The former top prospect had lost some of his velocity and his good breaking stuff was not enough to make up for a fastball that was too hittable.

The strikeouts were also not enough to make up for how hard he was getting hit in 2023.

Albeit in a small sample size, Priester may be on the verge of a resurgence after working on those problems.

After being drafted at pick 18 of the first round in 2019 out of Cary, Illinois, he flashed the stuff that made him a first rounder to the tune of a sub 3.30 ERA in 2019, 2021 and 2022. The latter two seasons both saw him throw over 90 innings.

The drop in velocity and missing spots too often led to a 7.74 ERA a year ago with the major league club, although he had a fantastic ground ball rate to build off.

The early signs in 2024 have been promising.

With the AAA Indianapolis Indians, Priester has worked the fastball back up to 93 to 94 mph, touching 95, and has been much more successful against left-handed batters who hit him hard in MLB.

Last year he was missing down the middle with the fastball to lefties too often and it led to a slugging percentage against over .800. This year he’s hit the edge of the zone away with much more consistency on the way to a slugging percentage against at .300.

Priester does not hold an overpowering pitch, like Paul Skenes or Jones’ fastballs, but consistently locating low and away with his sinker and highly praised curveball could bring success. Additionally, the right-hander will still be 23 until September.

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