North Shore Nine

Welcome to the weekly Scouting Prospects; The Top 30 series. Each week we will take a look at a different one of the Pirates Top 30 prospects, with a few bonus “double drop” weeks. The format of these articles will highlight and discuss the following.

• Scouting Score
• Performance
• Expectations
• Projected Debut
  
  When it comes to scouting grades, the scale used is 20-80. So, a 20-30 grade would be considered well below average. A 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average (Also called Plus) and 70-80 is well above average (or Plus Plus). For prospects the overall grade is where scouts expect the player to perform once in the majors. For example, a 65 grade would be an All-Star caliber standout player, whereas a 50 would be an everyday player and a 40 would be a bench player.

Keiner Delgado:

Delgado was signed as an International Free Agent out of Venezuela in 2021 by the New York Yankees. He spent two seasons in the Yankee system in the DSL and CPX leagues before being dealt to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2024 as the player to be named later for JT Brubaker. He never made the Pipeline Top Prospect list for the Yankees but has been in the Pirates Top 25 since his acquisition.

Overall, Delgado is graded currently as a bench player. However, he has nearly a plus hit tool with average running and fielding, with just below average arm strength and below average power. He is primarily used as a 2B but has spent time at SS as well. Scouts praise his discipline at the plate, this approach has led to very limited swing and misses, as well as a low chase rate. He has a sizeable number of stolen bases, however scouts are confident that is due to good instincts, pointing to his average speed on the basepaths. Scouts are not very high on him, part of that is due to his smaller stature, he only stands at 5’7″ and his lack of arm strength and speed.

Delgado had put up very good numbers his two years in the Yankee system, earning All-Star nods each season. When he came to Pittsburgh, he played only one game in the CPX league before going to low A Bradenton. While his K% went up and his BB% went down in Low A, he still had a solid first season there to date. He is hitting .227/.314/.354 with a .668 OPS, a .127 ISO a .275 BABIP with a 96 wRC+. While not standout numbers they are good signs for someone getting their first taste of better talent. In his 329 PA he has managed to collect 9 double, 2 triples and 8 home runs to go along with 20 stolen bases in 25 attempts. He has also been playing well enough defensivly for the team, playing 31 games at 2B and 42 at SS. It will be important for him to get more comfortable at this level next season and show what he is capable of.

It is hard to say, if or when Delgado will make the Show. He is Rule 5 eligible at the end of next season which might force the Pirates into a Tsung-Che Cheng type situation with a 40-man spot. Delgado is likely 3-5 seasons away if not a little bit longer, meaning it might be unlikely he gets protected next offseason with a few years left to go in his development. However, to develop further and have the best shot at the Show, he will need to cut back down and strikeouts and start walking more again. That when added to the rest of his game will give him a legit shot to be on the Pirates roster one day.