Anthony Solometo

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #5 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 55/High
  
  Track Record: When the Pirates cut an under-slot deal with catcher Henry Davis--whom they selected No. 1 overall in 2021--they used the savings to add high-end high school talent to their system. One such pitcher was Solometo, who got $2.8 million to break his commitment to North Carolina. Solometo did not pitch in his draft year, then made his pro debut with 13 outings at Low-A Bradenton. He split the 2023 season between High-A Greensboro and Double-A Altoona. His overall 3.26 ERA ranked inside the top 20 for pitchers with at least 100 innings.
  
  Scouting Report: Solometo’s long, winding arm action from the left side evokes the obvious comparisons and spurs the expected questions. His delivery calls to mind Madison Bumgarner, and scouts wonder if he’ll throw a high volume of quality strikes. Early in 2023, his command was not good. Over his first seven starts, Solometo issued 21 walks in 29.2 innings. The Pirates challenged Solometo to pound the zone and let his stuff do its job, and the results were stark. He walked just four hitters over his next five starts--a span of 29 innings--and earned a bump to Double-A. Solometo’s mix includes four- and two-seam fastballs in the low 90s, a slider in the mid 80s and a low-80s changeup. His two-seamer and slider each have a chance to be plus pitches. Scouts believe his changeup, though it is a bit further behind, could get to above-average with further development. Solometo will always have work to maintain the consistency of his slinging arm action to achieve average control and command. If 2023 is any indication, he’s up to the challenge.
  
  The Future: Solometo should reach Triple-A at some point in 2024--if not on Opening Day--and his major league debut sometime in the second half is a possibility. He could fit in the middle of a rotation.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50
• 
  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #13 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Solometo vaulted to No. 28 on Baseball America's draft board in 2021 and the Pirates nabbed him at No. 37 overall, signing him to an above-slot $2.8 million bonus. Pittsburgh built him up slowly at extended spring training in Florida, but Solometo finally debuted a year later with Low-A Bradenton in late May. He proved worth the wait, pitching to a 2.64 ERA over 47.2 innings.
  
  Scouting Report: The 6-foot-5 lefthander is mesmerizing to watch. His long levers seemingly fly in all directions as he drives down the mound toward hitters. His delivery and arm stroke consistently draw comparisons to Madison Bumgarner. Unsurprisingly, he's a nightmare at-bat for lefthanded hitters. He creates considerable deception, which helps his arsenal play up despite no clear plus pitch. He attacks hitters with a sinking low-90s fastball and tunnels it well with his mid-80s changeup. He also throws a sweeping 82-84 mph slider that flashes plus, but fluctuates in velocity and command. The Pirates hope to help optimize the shape and design of his breaking ball so it's more effective against experienced hitters. Solometo throws plenty of strikes and repeats his intricate delivery well. He's also a meticulous learner capable of making quick adjustments--the Pirates note he essentially learned how to hold runners over the span of one week--and he draws rave reviews for his maturity and commitment to his routine.
  
  The Future: His arsenal isn't flashy, but Solometo impresses with his aptitude and pitchability. He has a ceiling of a midrotation starter.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Slider: 55. Changeup: 50. Control: 55
• 
  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #11 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Solometo pitched his way up 2021 draft boards, emerging as the No. 4 high school arm in the class behind a fastball that touched 96 mph and a delivery that elicited comparisons to Madison Bumgarner. The Pirates drafted him 37th overall and signed him to an above-slot bonus nearing $2.8 million. Solometo didn’t pitch over the summer but spent time at Pittsburgh’s fall developmental camp.
  
  Scouting Report: Solometo’s entire operation is memorable. The tall, gangly lefty begins his windup with a big step toward third base, then swings his right leg up into an exaggerated leg kick, holding the ball in his hands above his head. From there, he brings the ball down into a deep, long arm action before exploding down the mound, releasing it from a low arm slot. All the moving parts create considerable deception, only aiding what the Pirates believe is a plus fastball thanks to its low-to-mid-90s velocity, command and ability to throw it in any count. He pairs it with a slider that dives at the foot of righthanded batters and flashes plus. His changeup is more developmental but flashes solid-average potential. Naturally, such an intricate delivery invites skepticism and requires some maintenance, but Solometo’s athleticism allows him to repeat it surprisingly well.
  
  The Future: Solometo is more advanced than the average prep pitcher, and the Pirates were impressed with his competitiveness and makeup. He has mid-rotation upside.
  

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #28 prospect in 2021 draft
  Solometo has continued to build his stock from last summer, growing from a promising lefty with a funky delivery into one of the top prep arms in the country. He starts his delivery with a big leg kick leading into a long, deep arm swing in the back reminiscent of Madison Bumgarner's arm action. That delivery adds deception and makes for uncomfortable at-bats, but all those long, moving parts also gave several scouts hesitancy about his ability to repeat and throw strikes consistently. However, Solometo performed well last summer, stamped by an outstanding showing at the Future Stars Series at Fenway Park in September. He continued to show command of both his fastball and slider this spring, though there have been outings where his control backed up and he missed to his arm side. His fastball sits around 89-93 mph with arm-side life and he has the ability to reach back for 96 when he needs an extra gear. He consistently gets ahead of hitters, throwing strikes with his fastball to both sides of the plate. His low-80s slider is a plus pitch at times and Solometo is adept at executing it down in the zone, comfortably throwing it to the back foot of righthanded hitters or landing it to his arm side. Solometo doesn't throw his changeup much and it's hit or miss, but he has shown some feel for that pitch too. Solometo doesn't have the same fastball or athleticism as fellow New Jersey prep pitcher Chase Petty, but he's a lefty who throws more strikes with a less stressful delivery, so some scouts prefer Solometo. His combination of stuff, pitchability and track record should make him one of the first high school pitchers off the board.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Solometo vaulted to No. 28 on Baseball America's draft board in 2021 and the Pirates nabbed him at No. 37 overall, signing him to an above-slot $2.8 million bonus. Pittsburgh built him up slowly at extended spring training in Florida, but Solometo finally debuted a year later with Low-A Bradenton in late May. He proved worth the wait, pitching to a 2.64 ERA over 47.2 innings.
  
  Scouting Report: The 6-foot-5 lefthander is mesmerizing to watch. His long levers seemingly fly in all directions as he drives down the mound toward hitters. His delivery and arm stroke consistently draw comparisons to Madison Bumgarner. Unsurprisingly, he's a nightmare at-bat for lefthanded hitters. He creates considerable deception, which helps his arsenal play up despite no clear plus pitch. He attacks hitters with a sinking low-90s fastball and tunnels it well with his mid-80s changeup. He also throws a sweeping 82-84 mph slider that flashes plus, but fluctuates in velocity and command. The Pirates hope to help optimize the shape and design of his breaking ball so it's more effective against experienced hitters. Solometo throws plenty of strikes and repeats his intricate delivery well. He's also a meticulous learner capable of making quick adjustments--the Pirates note he essentially learned how to hold runners over the span of one week--and he draws rave reviews for his maturity and commitment to his routine.
  
  The Future: His arsenal isn't flashy, but Solometo impresses with his aptitude and pitchability. He has a ceiling of a midrotation starter.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Slider: 55. Changeup: 50. Control: 55
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Solometo vaulted to No. 28 on Baseball America's draft board in 2021 and the Pirates nabbed him at No. 37 overall, signing him to an above-slot $2.8 million bonus. Pittsburgh built him up slowly at extended spring training in Florida, but Solometo finally debuted a year later with Low-A Bradenton in late May. He proved worth the wait, pitching to a 2.64 ERA over 47.2 innings.
  
  Scouting Report: The 6-foot-5 lefthander is mesmerizing to watch. His long levers seemingly fly in all directions as he drives down the mound toward hitters. His delivery and arm stroke consistently draw comparisons to Madison Bumgarner. Unsurprisingly, he's a nightmare at-bat for lefthanded hitters. He creates considerable deception, which helps his arsenal play up despite no clear plus pitch. He attacks hitters with a sinking low-90s fastball and tunnels it well with his mid-80s changeup. He also throws a sweeping 82-84 mph slider that flashes plus, but fluctuates in velocity and command. The Pirates hope to help optimize the shape and design of his breaking ball so it's more effective against experienced hitters. Solometo throws plenty of strikes and repeats his intricate delivery well. He's also a meticulous learner capable of making quick adjustments--the Pirates note he essentially learned how to hold runners over the span of one week--and he draws rave reviews for his maturity and commitment to his routine.
  
  The Future: His arsenal isn't flashy, but Solometo impresses with his aptitude and pitchability. He has a ceiling of a midrotation starter.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Slider: 55. Changeup: 50. Control: 55
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 55/Extreme
  
  Track Record: Solometo pitched his way up 2021 draft boards, emerging as the No. 4 high school arm in the class behind a fastball that touched 96 mph and a delivery that elicited comparisons to Madison Bumgarner. The Pirates drafted him 37th overall and signed him to an above-slot bonus nearing $2.8 million. Solometo didn&#39t pitch over the summer but spent time at Pittsburgh&#39s fall developmental camp.
  
  Scouting Report: Solometo&#39s entire operation is memorable. The tall, gangly lefty begins his windup with a big step toward third base, then swings his right leg up into an exaggerated leg kick, holding the ball in his hands above his head. From there, he brings the ball down into a deep, long arm action before exploding down the mound, releasing it from a low arm slot. All the moving parts create considerable deception, only aiding what the Pirates believe is a plus fastball thanks to its low-to-mid-90s velocity, command and ability to throw it in any count. He pairs it with a slider that dives at the foot of righthanded batters and flashes plus. His changeup is more developmental but flashes solid-average potential. Naturally, such an intricate delivery invites skepticism and requires some maintenance, but Solometo&#39s athleticism allows him to repeat it surprisingly well.
  
  The Future: Solometo is more advanced than the average prep pitcher, and the Pirates were impressed with his competitiveness and makeup. He has mid-rotation upside.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Slider: 60. Changeup: 50. Control: 50
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Solometo pitched his way up 2021 draft boards, emerging as the No. 4 high school arm in the class behind a fastball that touched 96 mph and a delivery that elicited comparisons to Madison Bumgarner. The Pirates drafted him 37th overall and signed him to an above-slot bonus nearing $2.8 million. Solometo didn’t pitch over the summer but spent time at Pittsburgh’s fall developmental camp.
  
  Scouting Report: Solometo’s entire operation is memorable. The tall, gangly lefty begins his windup with a big step toward third base, then swings his right leg up into an exaggerated leg kick, holding the ball in his hands above his head. From there, he brings the ball down into a deep, long arm action before exploding down the mound, releasing it from a low arm slot. All the moving parts create considerable deception, only aiding what the Pirates believe is a plus fastball thanks to its low-to-mid-90s velocity, command and ability to throw it in any count. He pairs it with a slider that dives at the foot of righthanded batters and flashes plus. His changeup is more developmental but flashes solid-average potential. Naturally, such an intricate delivery invites skepticism and requires some maintenance, but Solometo’s athleticism allows him to repeat it surprisingly well.
  
  The Future: Solometo is more advanced than the average prep pitcher, and the Pirates were impressed with his competitiveness and makeup. He has mid-rotation upside.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Solometo has continued to build his stock from last summer, growing from a promising lefty with a funky delivery into one of the top prep arms in the country. He starts his delivery with a big leg kick leading into a long, deep arm swing in the back reminiscent of Madison Bumgarner's arm action. That delivery adds deception and makes for uncomfortable at-bats, but all those long, moving parts also gave several scouts hesitancy about his ability to repeat and throw strikes consistently. However, Solometo performed well last summer, stamped by an outstanding showing at the Future Stars Series at Fenway Park in September. He continued to show command of both his fastball and slider this spring, though there have been outings where his control backed up and he missed to his arm side. His fastball sits around 89-93 mph with arm-side life and he has the ability to reach back for 96 when he needs an extra gear. He consistently gets ahead of hitters, throwing strikes with his fastball to both sides of the plate. His low-80s slider is a plus pitch at times and Solometo is adept at executing it down in the zone, comfortably throwing it to the back foot of righthanded hitters or landing it to his arm side. Solometo doesn't throw his changeup much and it's hit or miss, but he has shown some feel for that pitch too. Solometo doesn't have the same fastball or athleticism as fellow New Jersey prep pitcher Chase Petty, but he's a lefty who throws more strikes with a less stressful delivery, so some scouts prefer Solometo.