The Pirates' minor league system shone brightly on October 31st, as they honored their top prospects and celebrated their achievements. The Greensboro Grasshoppers, a High-A affiliate, claimed Staff of the Year after a remarkable season with eighty-eight wins and one hundred sixty-five home runs. Their pitching staff boasted a team ERA of three point five five and even threw two combined perfect games.Individual performances stood out as well, with Edward Florentino and Yonleg Gaetano winning Rookie-Level Player and Pitcher of the Year, respectively. Florentino, an outfielder and first baseman, climbed the ranks and earned a spot in MLB Pipeline’s Top one hundred prospects. Gaetano, a twenty-year-old right-hander, dominated the Dominican Summer League with a minuscule ERA and impressive strikeout numbers.Duce Gourson won the Omar Moreno Baserunner of the Year award for his thirty-one stolen bases and just three caught stealings. Esmerlyn Valdez took home the Willie Stargell Slugger of the Year title with twenty-six home runs and a strong Arizona Fall League performance. Brandan Bidois earned the Kent Tekulve Reliever of the Year recognition for his zero point seven four ERA and twenty-one plus scoreless innings at the end of the season.Defense was also highlighted, with Konnor Griffin winning the Bill Mazeroski Defender of the Year award for his poised shortstop play and just seven errors in eighty-nine games. Bubba Chandler was named Bob Friend Pitcher of the Year after striking out one hundred twenty-one batters over one hundred innings in Triple-A and posting a four point oh two ERA in his major league debut.Griffin's exceptional season earned him the Honus Wagner Player of the Year award, his second of the day. With these rising stars, Pirates fans have much to look forward to in the seasons ahead.
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