Quinn Priester could be the pitching surprise of the season’s second half for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
He’s back. After completing a rehab program at Triple-A Indianapolis, Priester was recalled to the Pirates for MLB duty last week. What a pitching welcome Priester gave Pirates’ skipper Derek Shelton and his teammates in Milwaukee.
On the road, against the National League Central-leading Brewers, Priester,23, turned in a stellar performance en route to earning his first victory of the season. Pittsburgh’s 12-2 win, which brought their season record to 44-47, saw the club’s top draft pick (18th overall) in 2019 complete six innings, allowing four hits, two walks, eight strikeouts, and giving up but one earned run.
Priester’s return to the Pirates’ starting rotation came at a time in need. Bailey Falter, the number four man in the starting rotation, is placed on the 15-day injured list due to left triceps tendonitis.
Two other starters that the Pirates have counted on, Martin Perez and Marco Gonzales, signed to hefty contracts this past off-season, have been battling injuries for what seems to be since the opening weeks of the 2024 season.
Perez, who has appeared in 14 games thus far with the Pirates, returned to the rotation in Milwaukee. In his appearance against the Brewers, Perez allowed five runs and nine hits in less than five innings of work. His ERA has grown to 5.15.
Gonzales, who is still rehabbing in the International League with the Indianapolis Indians, is working his way back from a left forearm strain. This season, after being acquired last December in a trade that brought the left-handed starter from the Atlanta Braves to the Pirates, Gonzales has yet to record a victory. He has appeared in only three games.
With the front-end three Pirates’ pitching staff of Paul Skenes, Jared Jones (who is also currently on the 15-day injured list with a right-side Grade 2 lat strain), and Mitch Keller performing solidly this season, Priester is making the most of his recent call-up from Triple-A.
There seems to be no shortage of confidence in Priester when taking to the mound. After making his MLB debut last July for the Pirates in a home game at PNC Park against the visiting Cleveland Guardians, the Glendale Heights, Illinois native seemed ready in spring training to be a force in Pittsburgh this season.
On day one of camp last February, Priester was one of the first pitchers to report to Pirate City. The kid from suburban Chicago was poised to make a point. The signing bonus, the previous four seasons working his way up the affiliates, and getting a taste of the big leagues in 2023 made Priester ready to be a full-time option for Shelton this season.
“I expect myself to perform well this year,” Priester said months back. “I worked hard in the off-season. I’m going to have fun, and hopefully make a difference.”
The performance Priester turned in against the Brewers illustrated that fun and work promise made during training camp.
Perhaps there is a comfortability factor now in the works that’s allowing Priester to show off his best stuff as a starter. He tells that after his second summoning from Indianapolis last summer to Pittsburgh, knowing what to expect made a difference in his approach.
“The big leagues offer a lot of adversity,” Priester said. “You always have to keep the faith.”
Not making the Pirates’ staff out of camp in March, Priester joined Pittsburgh in May while on a road trip that took the club to Oakland, then pitched at home against the Los Angeles Angels and made two more appearances in Milwaukee and Toronto. The more experience that Priester is offered after the all-star break, the better his outings should be.
The Pirates are in the chase for the division title and currently are only three games behind for the final Wild Card berth. There are doubters of the Pirates seeing the postseason come October. There's no doubt that competition is tough. So much must go right in Pittsburgh, and so much must go wrong with clubs such as the Braves, Cardinals, Padres, and Mets.
But anything is possible – just ask Priester.
