Henry Davis, Liover Peguero to start at Altoona as Pirates announce minor league rosters

ALTOONA — The Pittsburgh Pirates announced their minor league assignments Monday, revealing that MLB Pipeline top 10 prospects Henry Davis and Liover Peguero will return to Double-A Altoona to start the season.

Davis, the No. 1 overall pick in 2021, slashed .207/.324/.379 but played in only 31 games after being promoted from High-A Greensboro because of a left wrist injury. With 2022 minor league player of the year Endy Rodriguez catching at Triple-A Indianapolis, the Pirates wanted to give Davis a chance to play every day in Altoona.

Peguero batted .259 with 22 doubles, five triples, 10 homers and 58 RBIs but committed 31 errors (23 at shortstop and eight at second base).

Davis and Peguero lead six top-30 prospects to play for the Curve, joined by right-handed pitchers Jared Jones and Kyle Nicolas and outfielders Matt Gorski and Matt Fraizer. A surprise addition to the Altoona roster is first baseman Mason Martin, who had 19 home runs and 74 RBIs at Triple-A Indianapolis last season but batted .210 and had a 35.9% strikeout rate.

The @Pirates minor league rosters for 2023. ???? pic.twitter.com/hMVJWR5Afr

— Young Bucs (@YoungBucsPIT) April 3, 2023

High-A Greensboro’s roster features a pair of top-10 prospects in right-hander Bubba Chandler and lefty Anthony Solometo, as well as top-30 prospects in infielder Tsung-Che Cheng and outfielder Hudson Head.

The Pirates’ top prospect, 2022 first-round pick, infielder Termarr Johnson, headlines the Low-A Bradenton roster. He will be joined on the Marauders by top-30 prospects in right-handed pitcher Thomas Harrington, outfielder Shalin Polanco and infielder Rodolfo Nolasco, ranked in the top 30 by Baseball America.

Five top-10 prospects are at Indianapolis, which opened its season Friday: Rodriguez, right-handed pitchers Mike Burrows, Luis Ortiz and Quinn Priester and second baseman Nick Gonzales. Indy’s roster also includes top-30 prospects in first baseman Malcom Nunez, third baseman Jared Triolo, outfielder Travis Swaggerty and right-hander Carmen Mlodzinski. Two relievers, Cody Bolton and Colin Selby, are ranked in the top 30 by Baseball America.