Road to The Show™: Pirates’ Solometo
Each week, MiLB.com profiles an elite prospect by chronicling the steps he's taken toward achieving his Major League dream. Here's a look at fourth-ranked Pirates’ prospect Anthony Solometo. For more stories about players on The Road to The Show, click here. There are many ways to describe Anthony Solometo’s delivery,
Each week, MiLB.com profiles an elite prospect by chronicling the steps he's taken toward achieving his Major League dream. Here's a look at fourth-ranked Pirates’ prospect Anthony Solometo. For more stories about players on The Road to The Show, click here.
There are many ways to describe Anthony Solometo’s delivery, which has drawn comparisons to Madison Bumgarner, Mackenzie Gore and Chris Sale. But the Pirates left-hander knows which adjective suits him best.
“I think funky is a great word to describe it,” Solometo told MLB.com after he was drafted in 2021. “You know, I like to be a funky dancer out there sometimes.”
The Pirates’ fourth-ranked prospect advanced from High-A Greensboro to Double-A Altoona in what amounts to his first full season. In 24 total starts, he posted a 3.24 ERA with 118 punchouts in 110 ⅓ innings while holding opposing batters to a .227 average. His ERA, BAA and 1.19 WHIP ranked first among the 10 Pittsburgh prospects to complete at least 100 innings in 2023.
Solometo makes the most of his lanky, 6-foot-5 frame to attack hitters from a low arm slot and a release point that can make it seem like the pitch is coming from first base. Despite all the moving parts in his delivery, he commands his pitch mix well, especially after a midseason mechanical adjustment with his legs and elbow.
MLB Pipeline’s No. 84 overall prospect possesses a sinking fastball that tends to sit in the low-90s, but he’s added some velocity and can hit 96-97 mph. He also worked with Pirates pitching coordinator Josh Hopper to reshape his go-to breaking ball from a slurve to a harder sweeper that sits between 85-90 mph. Solometo rounds out his arsenal with a changeup that’s still developing into an effective offering.
Although he’s made many adjustments since his amateur days and had a lighter workload in his debut season in 2022, Solometo, who reached Double-A as a 20-year-old, is rising through the Minors quickly.
“We have a lot of faith in his maturity, his routine,” general manager Ben Cherington told MLB.com in June. “He's been ahead of his years since the day he signed as far as being on top of the right stuff and knowing what he needs to do to prepare. So, we were confident both in the on-field part and just as a person, as a mature young man that he would be ready and we felt like it was a good time to challenge him.”
The Voorhees, New Jersey, native had a brilliant high school senior season at Bishop Eustace, allowing one run in 32 2/3 innings and throwing no-hitters in back-to-back starts. He continued to impress national scouts at summer showcase events like the Area Code Games and rose to prominence as MLB Pipeline’s No. 17 Draft prospect in 2021.
Solometo slid a bit in the Draft, perhaps due to signability issues considering his commitment to the University of North Carolina, but was taken by the Pirates in the second round with the No. 37 overall pick.
Solometo was part of a larger Draft strategy that started with the selection of Henry Davis with the No. 1 overall pick. By drafting Davis over players like Jack Leiter or Marcelo Mayer who were looking for larger signing bonuses, Pittsburgh was able to save nearly $3 million in bonus pool money. The club used that savings to land Solometo, Lonnie White Jr. and Bubba Chandler – three high-schoolers who would require bonuses much higher than their slot value.
Solometo was the first domino to fall, reportedly signing for $2.8 million, which was more pricey than the No. 37 selection’s $2 million slot value. Eventually, White and Chandler, who were both big-time football recruits as well, also signed above-slot deals.
Solometo didn’t pitch in Minor League games in 2021 and actually stayed at Pirate City, the team’s facility in Bradenton, Florida, for more than 10 months after he was drafted.
He made his debut with Single-A Bradenton at the end of May 2022. Overall, he made eight starts in 13 appearances for the Marauders. He posted a 2.64 ERA with 51 punchouts in 47 ⅔ innings while holding opposing batters to a .188 average. Solometo did not throw more than 69 pitches in any of his outings but completed five innings in two of his last five appearances.
During the offseason, Solometo trained with Tread Athletics, the facility that helped Pirates righty Mitch Keller regain his form in 2023. He worked to eliminate the arm drag and adjust the angle of his elbow within his delivery. He also went on a nutrition and weightlifting plan and dropped more than 10 pounds.
He was among the youngest players in the South Atlantic League in 2023 when he reported to Greensboro, whose home park is traditionally tough on pitchers.
The season did not get off to a great start as his control and command eluded him in the early going. He issued 29 walks over his first seven starts, spanning 29 ⅔ innings, and held a 3.94 ERA.
After a particularly difficult start, Solometo made a mechanical adjustment that turned his season around. The “funky dancer” had a tendency to leap off the mound in his delivery rather than driving off his back leg, which threw him off-balance. Instead, he worked to stay low and get more direct to the plate. The results seemed to pay off immediately.
When he was elevated to Altoona in June, Solometo lowered his ERA to 2.30 and walked just four batters in his next five Grasshoppers starts, which spanned 29 frames. Overall, he left the South Atlantic League with 68 strikeouts across 58 2/3 innings.
Solometo made 12 starts for Altoona, posting a 4.35 ERA and .247 BAA with 52 punchouts in 53 ⅓ innings. Although he got knocked around a little bit, he walked just 2.7 batters per nine innings and continued to show impressive command.
Solometo should get some important innings during the upcoming Grapefruit League season this spring, but it would still be a tremendous leap for him to reach the big leagues in 2024.
Gerard Gilberto is a reporter for MiLB.com.
10 prospects at Spring Training who are lighting up Statcast
One of the best parts of Spring Training every year is getting to see the top prospects in baseball. A lot of the time, it's the first look fans get at MLB's future stars. But we also know a lot more about those prospects going into Spring Training than we
Questions plague Peeples' trailblazing story
A version of this story previously appeared on MiLB.com in 2007. We present it again as Minor League Baseball celebrates Black History Month with stories of Black baseball pioneers.
Prospects to watch this spring -- one for each team
Spring may not have arrived quite yet, but Spring Training has! Players have reported to camp and exhibition games kick off Thursday with the Cubs visiting the Dodgers in Glendale, Ariz.
8 of the best team matchups in Spring Breakout
After Spring Breakout's dynamic debut last year, the prospect showcase event returns in full force for 2025. All 30 Major League teams will field squads of top prospects to face off in 16 games from March 13-16 -- the Cubs and Nationals will play twice since there's an odd number
Fowler: A 19th-century baseball pioneer
A version of this story originally appeared on MiLB.com in 2006. We present it here once more as Minor League Baseball celebrates Black History Month with stories of Black baseball pioneers.
Everything you need to know about prospects and Spring Training
This story was excerpted from MLB Pipeline's newsletter. Subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
Arkansas-based Mariners affiliate to honor legacy of the Little Rock Nine
The Little Rock Nine sounds like it could be the name of a baseball team playing in Arkansas' capital city, and for three nights during the 2025 season, it will be. The story behind the name transcends baseball, however. From Aug. 21-23, the Arkansas Travelers -- Seattle's Double-A affiliate --
MiLB podcast breaks down Spring Training storylines
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Leaf Peepers? Thunder Chickens?! Coming to the Minors this year
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Dodgers greats Newcombe and Campanella made history as Minors teammates
A version of this story originally appeared on MiLB.com in 2006. We present it here once more as Minor League Baseball celebrates Black History Month with stories of Black baseball pioneers.
15 prospects primed for a bounceback season from injury
A lot of players will be getting a fresh start heading into the 2025 season. Prospects who missed significant time due to injury have had upwards of six months between regular-season games to return to health. Now they'll be looking to re-establish their value and maybe even reach new heights.
Check out the newest Minor League team logos for 2025
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Here are 18 prospects who also starred on the gridiron
The two-time defending-champion Kansas City Chiefs are set to meet the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX, and plenty of baseball prospects will be keeping a close eye. After all, many current Minor Leaguers played football at a high level before committing fully to the diamond. No, there aren't any
Did you know the Superdome was once home to a Minor League team?
On Sunday, one of the world’s most-watched sporting events will take place at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. Believe it or not, decades before Super Bowl LIX came to town, the same building was home to a Minor League Baseball team for one season. The 1977 Triple-A New Orleans Pelicans
How a Black pitcher's brief PCL stint in 1916 generated a historic card
A version of this story originally appeared on MiLB.com in 2010. We present it here once more as Minor League Baseball celebrates Black History Month with stories of Black baseball pioneers.
The Show Before the Show: Episode 489
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minors legend Jones still holds batting record
A version of this story originally appeared on MiLB.com in 2008. We present it here once more as Minor League Baseball celebrates Black History Month with stories of Black baseball pioneers. Grover "Deacon" Jones spent more than a half-century in baseball, serving the game at almost every level and in
Hooks have a new look -- and more -- on the line for 20th season
In advance of a milestone season at Whataburger Field, the Corpus Christi Hooks are making a change. The Houston Astros' Double-A affiliate unveiled new logos and uniforms on Friday evening, marking the first time they have significantly altered their look since debuting in 2005. According to Hooks general manager Brady
Here's how Jackie Robinson fueled Montreal to a Minor League title in 1946
A version of this story originally appeared on MiLB.com in 2006. We present it here once more as Minor League Baseball celebrates Black History Month with stories of Black baseball pioneers.
They're due! MiLB's longest active title droughts
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
These players could earn teams extra Draft picks in 2025
Since the Prospect Promotion Incentive (PPI) was implemented under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, four players have earned their clubs extra Draft picks. The PPI rewards teams for promoting their best prospects to the big leagues at the start of the season, enabling them to earn a Draft pick if
Each team's best non-Top 100 prospect
There just isn't enough room to fit all the worthy talents on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects list. We unveiled our latest rankings last Friday, and now we're going to spotlight the best prospect in each farm system who couldn't quite make the cut. We undertook the same exercise last