Quinn Priester

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #8 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 45/Medium
  
  Track Record: Priester was the Pirates’ first-round pick in 2019, when the Illinois prep product earned a $3.4 million bonus. The righthander was impressive in his first taste of pro ball, split between the Florida Complex League and Low-A. He spent 2020 at the team’s alternate training site, then moved quickly once the minor leagues resumed. After missing time early in 2023 with an oblique injury, Priester reached Triple-A before his 22nd birthday, then made his MLB debut on July 17. He will graduate from prospect status with his next out in the major leagues.
  
  Scouting Report: Priester dealt with fluctuations to his fastball velocity early in 2023 and was hit hard as a result. He and the Pirates worked to steady his lower half, which helped him regain the ticks he’d lost on his heater, and he averaged 93 mph in the big leagues. Priester’s best offspeed pitch is his curveball, a high-70s downer that has been one of his signatures throughout his career. The righthander also had to learn to show more trust in his slider, which the team believed he had been babying to achieve better shape rather than throwing it with conviction. Priester’s changeup lost effectiveness at points during the season because its velocity did not drop along with his fastball’s, which led to much less separation between the pitches. Now, Priester will have to throw more strikes after walking nearly 12% of big league batters faced. If he can improve that figure a few ticks, he could fit in the back of the Pirates’ rotation.
  
  The Future: Priester will enter 2024 with a clear chance to seize a roster spot in Pittsburgh on Opening Day. To do so, he’ll need to maintain consistency throughout his repertoire and improve his control. If he does that, he has the upside of a No. 4 starter.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45
• 
  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #5 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
  
  Track Record: The Pirates have challenged Priester with aggressive assignments every year since drafting him 18th overall out of high school in 2019 and signing him to a $3.4 million bonus. That trend continued in 2022. Priester's debut was delayed two months by an oblique injury, but he spent the majority of his age-21 season with Double-A Altoona, posting a 2.87 ERA over 75 innings despite again being one of the youngest pitchers at that level.
  
  Scouting Report: Priester is an analytically minded pitcher who immerses himself in data and revels in game-planning. He relies on a deep repertoire of pitches he can throw for strikes at any time to help mitigate the lack of an elite swing-and-miss offering. His 94-96 mph four-seam fastball has decent velocity but ordinary shape, resulting in one of the lowest four-seam whiff percentages in Pittsburgh's system. Priester instead turned to a sinker midway through 2021 that has better angle. He now throws it nearly as much as his four-seamer, and he generated a 51% groundball rate with Altoona in 2022. Priester's best secondary pitch continues to be his 78-82 mph curveball, a plus offering with good shape that batters chase as it dives out of the strike zone. He also added an upper-80s slider during the pandemic in 2020 that is still inconsistent but has above-average potential. He also throws a firm upper-80s changeup with decent arm speed and fade. The 6-foot-3 Priester looks the part of a workhorse starter and repeats his delivery well, though scouts still have concerns he can become too rigid. The Pirates said they made subtle tweaks to Priester's delivery early in 2022 to help with his durability.
  
  The Future: Priester should return to Triple-A Indianapolis to begin his age-22 season. He has the ceiling of a midrotation starter.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50. Curveball: 60. Slider: 50. Changeup: 50. Control: 55
• 
  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #6 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: The Pirates drafted Priester No. 18 overall in 2019 and signed him for $3.4 million out of high school. He became a darling of scouts the following year at instructional league, where he touched 98 mph and showed improved stuff in short stints following the canceled minor league season. Priester was a popular breakout candidate entering 2021 and posted a 3.04 ERA in 97.2 innings for High-A Greensboro, where he was one of the youngest starting pitchers at the level.
  
  Scouting Report: Priester didn’t quite hold his previous velocity gains and settled into the 94-95 mph range before tailing off at the end of the season. Still, he looks the part of the prototype starting pitcher with a strong frame. He throws two fastballs—a four-seamer and a sinker—and pairs them with a plus curveball, average slider and fringy changeup. Priester added his slider during the coronavirus shutdown while seeking a pitch he could throw to his glove side. It’s a harder offering that sits 89-91 mph and is sometimes confused for a cutter, but is plenty effective. He could stand to throw his fringe-average changeup with more conviction. All of Priester’s pitches play well off the same plane, and he fills up the strike zone with above-average control. He does have some rigidity in his throwing stroke and his delivery can become methodical at times. Priester didn’t miss an overwhelming amount of bats in his debut, but his near 55% groundball rate ranked second among Pirates minor league starters with 90 innings.
  
  The Future: Priester will still be just 21 years old on Opening Day. He will likely open in Double-A and has the ceiling of a mid-rotation starter.
• 
  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #4 prospect in 2021
  Fastball: 60. Slider: 40. Changeup: 50. Curveball: 60. Control: 55.
  
  TRACK RECORD: The Pirates drafted Priester out of high school with the 18th overall pick in 2019. He hadn’t even turned 20 when the Pirates sent him to their alternate training site in 2020, but he was impressive enough facing some of the best hitting prospects in the system to show he may be a fast-mover despite his youth.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Priester’s fastball jumped to 96-98 mph in short stints at the alternate training site, an encouraging development after he sat in the low 90s and touched 97 mph in his pro debut. He throws both a two-seamer with movement and a four-seamer he controls better. Priester complements his fastballs up with a plus low-80s curveball he can land for strikes or get swings and misses with. He improved his changeup by learning to consistently throw it like a fastball. Priester improved his control by staying taller in his delivery and keeping his upper and lower body in sync. He’s made strides figuring out how to sequence and tunnel each pitch to improve his entire mix. Priester is a studious learner who quickly picks up the game’s newest trends on pitch mechanics and deception.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Pirates are prepared to move Priester aggressively with his stuff and smarts. He has the potential to eventually join Mitch Keller at the front of the Pirates’ rotation.
• 
  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #7 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Priester was one of the top prep pitchers in the 2019 draft and passed up a commitment to Texas Christian after the Pirates drafted him 18th overall and signed him for $3.4 million. He didn't have a pitching coach as an amateur, with a lot of his development self-taught from watching other pitchers on YouTube. He took it upon himself to add strength to his lower half prior to 2019, resulting in added velocity.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: In addition to his high aptitude for the game, Priester has the stuff to be a high-end starter. His four-seam fastball can get up to 97 mph with a smooth delivery from a three-quarters arm slot. He has more command of his four-seamer but more movement on his low-90s two-seamer. Priester's curveball is his best offering at the moment and a future plus pitch. He can both land it for strikes and generate swings and misses thanks to good shape and deception. His changeup is a work in progress, but he has a grip he likes and is gradually getting a better feel for it. His smooth delivery portends future above-average control.
  
  THE FUTURE: Priester is advanced enough that he could move up to low Class A Greensboro in 2020. His physicality, stuff and aptitude give him a chance to move quicker than a typical high school pitcher.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #23 prospect in 2019 draft
  Priester stands out for being a 6-foot-3 prep righthander who has excellent physical projection and advanced strike-throwing capabilities. He has good arm action from a three-quarter arm slot and an easy delivery. Although his delivery lacks flaws, scouts have questioned the quickness of his movements throughout the motion. His fastball sits in the low 90s with good life, but he has topped out at 96 mph this spring. His main secondary offering is a curveball that has good shape and flashes future plus potential. His third pitch is a changeup that lags behind his curveball. Priester hasn't received much formal pitching instruction to this point, which makes him exceptionally intriguing considering his success and also speaks to his high aptitude for the game. He self-taught himself some of the mechanical details of the game by watching YouTube videos of pitchers he admired and wanted to emulate. While prep arms always have risk associated with them, Priester has the ingredients of a starting pitcher with big upside and has received enough helium this spring to perhaps land in the first round. Priester is committed to Texas Christian.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Florida Complex League #2 prospect in 2019
  Priester was the highest drafted pitcher to qualify for this list, and he came as advertised in his pro debut. The No. 18 overall pick, he signed for $3.4 million, then showed an impressive combination of size, stuff and polish for his age. Priester has a loose arm action and a relatively easy delivery that he repeats well. That helps him throw strikes at a high rate with a lively sinking fastball that sits in the low 90s and has reached 96 mph. He complements his fastball with a hard curveball that offers good shape and depth to miss bats. He can get around the curveball at times, but it flashes above-average as well. Priester has toyed with different changeup grips and he showed signs of progress with it in the GCL, though, like most prep picks, it’s still behind his curveball.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #88 prospect in 2022
• Ranked Baseball America's #58 prospect in 2021

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
  
  Track Record: The Pirates have challenged Priester with aggressive assignments every year since drafting him 18th overall out of high school in 2019 and signing him to a $3.4 million bonus. That trend continued in 2022. Priester's debut was delayed two months by an oblique injury, but he spent the majority of his age-21 season with Double-A Altoona, posting a 2.87 ERA over 75 innings despite again being one of the youngest pitchers at that level.
  
  Scouting Report: Priester is an analytically minded pitcher who immerses himself in data and revels in game-planning. He relies on a deep repertoire of pitches he can throw for strikes at any time to help mitigate the lack of an elite swing-and-miss offering. His 94-96 mph four-seam fastball has decent velocity but ordinary shape, resulting in one of the lowest four-seam whiff percentages in Pittsburgh's system. Priester instead turned to a sinker midway through 2021 that has better angle. He now throws it nearly as much as his four-seamer, and he generated a 51% groundball rate with Altoona in 2022. Priester's best secondary pitch continues to be his 78-82 mph curveball, a plus offering with good shape that batters chase as it dives out of the strike zone. He also added an upper-80s slider during the pandemic in 2020 that is still inconsistent but has above-average potential. He also throws a firm upper-80s changeup with decent arm speed and fade. The 6-foot-3 Priester looks the part of a workhorse starter and repeats his delivery well, though scouts still have concerns he can become too rigid. The Pirates said they made subtle tweaks to Priester's delivery early in 2022 to help with his durability.
  
  The Future: Priester should return to Triple-A Indianapolis to begin his age-22 season. He has the ceiling of a midrotation starter.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50. Curveball: 60. Slider: 50. Changeup: 50. Control: 55
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
  
  Track Record: The Pirates have challenged Priester with aggressive assignments every year since drafting him 18th overall out of high school in 2019 and signing him to a $3.4 million bonus. That trend continued in 2022. Priester's debut was delayed two months by an oblique injury, but he spent the majority of his age-21 season with Double-A Altoona, posting a 2.87 ERA over 75 innings despite again being one of the youngest pitchers at that level.
  
  Scouting Report: Priester is an analytically minded pitcher who immerses himself in data and revels in game-planning. He relies on a deep repertoire of pitches he can throw for strikes at any time to help mitigate the lack of an elite swing-and-miss offering. His 94-96 mph four-seam fastball has decent velocity but ordinary shape, resulting in one of the lowest four-seam whiff percentages in Pittsburgh's system. Priester instead turned to a sinker midway through 2021 that has better angle. He now throws it nearly as much as his four-seamer, and he generated a 51% groundball rate with Altoona in 2022. Priester's best secondary pitch continues to be his 78-82 mph curveball, a plus offering with good shape that batters chase as it dives out of the strike zone. He also added an upper-80s slider during the pandemic in 2020 that is still inconsistent but has above-average potential. He also throws a firm upper-80s changeup with decent arm speed and fade. The 6-foot-3 Priester looks the part of a workhorse starter and repeats his delivery well, though scouts still have concerns he can become too rigid. The Pirates said they made subtle tweaks to Priester's delivery early in 2022 to help with his durability.
  
  The Future: Priester should return to Triple-A Indianapolis to begin his age-22 season. He has the ceiling of a midrotation starter.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50. Curveball: 60. Slider: 50. Changeup: 50. Control: 55
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 55/High
  
  Track Record: The Pirates drafted Priester No. 18 overall in 2019 and signed him to a $3.4 million bonus out of high school. Roughly a year later, he became a darling of scouts covering the fall instructional league, touching 98 mph and showing increased stuff in short stints following the minors&#39 shutdown. Priester was a popular breakout candidate entering 2021 and posted a 3.04 ERA in 97.2 innings for High-A Greensboro, where he was one of the youngest starting pitchers at his level.
  
  Scouting Report: Priester didn&#39t quite hold the velocity gains shown in instructs, settling into the 94-95 mph range before tailing off at the end of the season. Still, he looks the part of the prototypical starting pitcher with a strong frame. He throws two fastballs, a four-seamer and a sinker, and pairs them with a plus curveball, slider and changeup. The slider is the newest of the secondaries, as he added it during the Covid-19 shutdown while seeking a pitch he could throw to his glove side. It&#39s a harder offering, sitting 89-91 mph and sometimes confused for a cutter, but flashes above average. Scouts would like to see Priester throw his fringe-average changeup with more conviction, but noted all his pitches play off the same plane. Priester earns high marks within the Pirates organization for his aptitude and pre-game preparation. Scouts share some concern about rigidity in his throwing stroke, and noted his delivery could become methodical at times. Priester (24% strikeout rate) didn&#39t miss an overwhelming amount of bats, especially with his fastball, but his 2.20 groundball-to-flyball ratio was one of the best in Pittsburgh&#39s system.
  
  The Future: Priester will still be just 21 years old on Opening Day, where he&#39ll likely get his first taste of the upper levels. He has the ceiling of a mid-rotation starter.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Curveball: 60. Slider: 50. Changeup: 45. Control: 55.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: The Pirates drafted Priester No. 18 overall in 2019 and signed him for $3.4 million out of high school. He became a darling of scouts the following year at instructional league, where he touched 98 mph and showed improved stuff in short stints following the canceled minor league season. Priester was a popular breakout candidate entering 2021 and posted a 3.04 ERA in 97.2 innings for High-A Greensboro, where he was one of the youngest starting pitchers at the level.
  
  Scouting Report: Priester didn’t quite hold his previous velocity gains and settled into the 94-95 mph range before tailing off at the end of the season. Still, he looks the part of the prototype starting pitcher with a strong frame. He throws two fastballs—a four-seamer and a sinker—and pairs them with a plus curveball, average slider and fringy changeup. Priester added his slider during the coronavirus shutdown while seeking a pitch he could throw to his glove side. It’s a harder offering that sits 89-91 mph and is sometimes confused for a cutter, but is plenty effective. He could stand to throw his fringe-average changeup with more conviction. All of Priester’s pitches play well off the same plane, and he fills up the strike zone with above-average control. He does have some rigidity in his throwing stroke and his delivery can become methodical at times. Priester didn’t miss an overwhelming amount of bats in his debut, but his near 55% groundball rate ranked second among Pirates minor league starters with 90 innings.
  
  The Future: Priester will still be just 21 years old on Opening Day. He will likely open in Double-A and has the ceiling of a mid-rotation starter.
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 60. Slider: 40. Changeup: 50. Curveball: 60. Control: 55.
  
  TRACK RECORD: The Pirates drafted Priester out of high school with the 18th overall pick in 2019. He hadn't even turned 20 when the Pirates sent him to their alternate training site in 2020, but he was impressive enough facing some of the best hitting prospects in the system to show he may be a fast-mover despite his youth.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Priester's fastball jumped to 96-98 mph in short stints at the alternate training site, an encouraging development after he sat in the low 90s and touched 97 mph in his pro debut. He throws both a two-seamer with movement and a four-seamer he controls better. Priester complements his fastballs up with a plus low-80s curveball he can land for strikes or get swings and misses with. He improved his changeup by learning to consistently throw it like a fastball. Priester improved his control by staying taller in his delivery and keeping his upper and lower body in sync. He's made strides figuring out how to sequence and tunnel each pitch to improve his entire mix. Priester is a studious learner who quickly picks up the game's newest trends on pitch mechanics and deception.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Pirates are prepared to move Priester aggressively with his stuff and smarts. He has the potential to eventually join Mitch Keller at the front of the Pirates' rotation.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 60. Slider: 40. Changeup: 50. Curveball: 60. Control: 55.
  
  TRACK RECORD: The Pirates drafted Priester out of high school with the 18th overall pick in 2019. He hadn’t even turned 20 when the Pirates sent him to their alternate training site in 2020, but he was impressive enough facing some of the best hitting prospects in the system to show he may be a fast-mover despite his youth.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Priester’s fastball jumped to 96-98 mph in short stints at the alternate training site, an encouraging development after he sat in the low 90s and touched 97 mph in his pro debut. He throws both a two-seamer with movement and a four-seamer he controls better. Priester complements his fastballs up with a plus low-80s curveball he can land for strikes or get swings and misses with. He improved his changeup by learning to consistently throw it like a fastball. Priester improved his control by staying taller in his delivery and keeping his upper and lower body in sync. He’s made strides figuring out how to sequence and tunnel each pitch to improve his entire mix. Priester is a studious learner who quickly picks up the game’s newest trends on pitch mechanics and deception.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Pirates are prepared to move Priester aggressively with his stuff and smarts. He has the potential to eventually join Mitch Keller at the front of the Pirates’ rotation.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 60. Slider: 40. Changeup: 50. Curveball: 60. Control: 55.
  
  TRACK RECORD: The Pirates drafted Priester out of high school with the 18th overall pick in 2019. He hadn’t even turned 20 when the Pirates sent him to their alternate training site in 2020, but he was impressive enough facing some of the best hitting prospects in the system to show he may be a fast-mover despite his youth.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Priester’s fastball jumped to 96-98 mph in short stints at the alternate training site, an encouraging development after he sat in the low 90s and touched 97 mph in his pro debut. He throws both a two-seamer with movement and a four-seamer he controls better. Priester complements his fastballs up with a plus low-80s curveball he can land for strikes or get swings and misses with. He improved his changeup by learning to consistently throw it like a fastball. Priester improved his control by staying taller in his delivery and keeping his upper and lower body in sync. He’s made strides figuring out how to sequence and tunnel each pitch to improve his entire mix. Priester is a studious learner who quickly picks up the game’s newest trends on pitch mechanics and deception.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Pirates are prepared to move Priester aggressively with his stuff and smarts. He has the potential to eventually join Mitch Keller at the front of the Pirates’ rotation.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Priester was one of the top prep pitchers in the 2019 draft and passed up a commitment to Texas Christian after the Pirates drafted him 18th overall and signed him for $3.4 million. He didn’t have a pitching coach as an amateur, with a lot of his development self-taught from watching other pitchers on YouTube. He took it upon himself to add strength to his lower half prior to 2019, resulting in added velocity.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: In addition to his high aptitude for the game, Priester has the stuff to be a high-end starter. His four-seam fastball can get up to 97 mph with a smooth delivery from a three-quarters arm slot. He has more command of his four-seamer but more movement on his low-90s two-seamer. Priester’s curveball is his best offering at the moment and a future plus pitch. He can both land it for strikes and generate swings and misses thanks to good shape and deception. His changeup is a work in progress, but he has a grip he likes and is gradually getting a better feel for it. His smooth delivery portends future above-average control.
  
  THE FUTURE: Priester is advanced enough that he could move up to low Class A Greensboro in 2020. His physicality, stuff and aptitude give him a chance to move quicker than a typical high school pitcher.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Priester was one of the top prep pitchers in the 2019 draft and passed up a commitment to Texas Christian after the Pirates drafted him 18th overall and signed him for $3.4 million. He didn't have a pitching coach as an amateur, with a lot of his development self-taught from watching other pitchers on YouTube. He took it upon himself to add strength to his lower half prior to 2019, resulting in added velocity.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: In addition to his high aptitude for the game, Priester has the stuff to be a high-end starter. His four-seam fastball can get up to 97 mph with a smooth delivery from a three-quarters arm slot. He has more command of his four-seamer but more movement on his low-90s two-seamer. Priester's curveball is his best offering at the moment and a future plus pitch. He can both land it for strikes and generate swings and misses thanks to good shape and deception. His changeup is a work in progress, but he has a grip he likes and is gradually getting a better feel for it. His smooth delivery portends future above-average control.
  
  THE FUTURE: Priester is advanced enough that he could move up to low Class A Greensboro in 2020. His physicality, stuff and aptitude give him a chance to move quicker than a typical high school pitcher.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Priester stands out for being a 6-foot-3 prep righthander who has excellent physical projection and advanced strike-throwing capabilities. He has good arm action from a three-quarter arm slot and an easy delivery. Although his delivery lacks flaws, scouts have questioned the quickness of his movements throughout the motion. His fastball sits in the low 90s with good life, but he has topped out at 96 mph this spring. His main secondary offering is a curveball that has good shape and flashes future plus potential. His third pitch is a changeup that lags behind his curveball. Priester hasn't received much formal pitching instruction to this point, which makes him exceptionally intriguing considering his success and also speaks to his high aptitude for the game. He self-taught himself some of the mechanical details of the game by watching YouTube videos of pitchers he admired and wanted to emulate. While prep arms always have risk associated with them, Priester has the ingredients of a starting pitcher with big upside and has received enough helium this spring to perhaps land in the first round. Priester is committed to Texas Christian.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Priester was the highest drafted pitcher to qualify for this list, and he came as advertised in his pro debut. The No. 18 overall pick, he signed for $3.4 million, then showed an impressive combination of size, stuff and polish for his age. Priester has a loose arm action and a relatively easy delivery that he repeats well. That helps him throw strikes at a high rate with a lively sinking fastball that sits in the low 90s and has reached 96 mph. He complements his fastball with a hard curveball that offers good shape and depth to miss bats. He can get around the curveball at times, but it flashes above-average as well. Priester has toyed with different changeup grips and he showed signs of progress with it in the GCL, though, like most prep picks, it’s still behind his curveball.