The Pittsburgh Pirates announced on Saturday that they have selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Nick Mears. To make room on the active roster, Miguel Del Pozo was assigned to the alternate training site in Altoona.
Mears ranked as the 13th best prospect in the Pirates system when we released our 2020 Prospect Guide. He has since moved down a few places, though that was due to the additions of Liover Peguero and Brennan Malone in the Starling Marte trade, and the re-ranking after the 2020 draft picks signed. Mears rated that high due to a fastball that reaches 100 MPH and a curve that has become an out pitch since he signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2018. In the Arizona Fall League last year, he made eight appearances and threw 8.2 shutout innings, with 11 strikeouts. He has been fast-tracked through the minors, throwing a total of 50.2 innings over four levels. Mears is a strike-thrower, who has racked up 77 strikeouts in his short time in the minors.
Del Pozo struggled in his five appearances with the Pirates, allowing seven runs and eight walks in 3.2 innings.
