Pittsburgh Pirates top ten prospects for 2020

4. Calvin Mitchell

Minors (A+): 493 plate appearances, .251/.304/.406, 15 homers, 21 doubles, 32 walks, 142 strikeouts

If Calvin Mitchell is going to make an impact with the Pittsburgh Pirates, it will be due to his bat.

Selected in the second round of the 2017 MLB Draft, Mitchell was considered to be one of the best high school bats in the country as he headed into his senior year. However, his struggles during the spring, coupled with his defensive limitations, led to his falling down the draft board until the Pirates snagged him with the 50th overall selection.

Considered an excellent hitter, Mitchell has displayed a solid ability to put the barrel on the ball when he makes contact. However, his swing can be a bit slow at times, leading to his hitting balls the other way that should be driven to his pull side. That leaves him a bit susceptible to fastballs on the inner part of the plate as well. There is plenty of power potential in the bat, but it needs to be unlocked through adjustments in his swing and approach. Defensively, Mitchell is barely average, and is likely ticketed for left due to his mediocre arm.

For Mitchell to be able to make an impact at the major league level, he will need to ride his bat through the system. The raw tools are there for him to do just that, especially if he can unlock his potential power. But he will have to work on improving his bat speed and getting his hands through the zone quicker in order for that to happen.

Calvin Mitchell has a chance to make his presence felt with the Pittsburgh Pirates, but it may take a bit more time than expected.