Follow the Prospects: Andrew Pickney, OF

[imref]

DOB: 12/07/2000 in Tuscaloosa, AL
Draft: 2023, Washington Nationals, Round: 4, Overall Pick: 102
B/T: R/R6' 3"/215

https://www.milb.com/player/andrew-pinckney-687605

Prospects Live: 2022:

In many phases of the game, Andrew Pinckney has loud tools: arm, speed, glove, and power. However, one tool that still needs work is his ability to make contact more consistently. Early in the summer, this was a big problem for Pinckney, especially with breaking pitches. As the summer has gone on, however, he has started to put the bat on the ball more often and is in the midst of an 11-game hitting streak. In my most recent look at him, the double he hit came against a slider, which is an encouraging sign since I had yet to see production against an offspeed from him. When the 6-foot-3-inch center fielder, gets all of his long levers working, he can do some real damage. Earlier in the season, he hit a homer (one of two in the game) on the hardest hit ball I’ve seen all summer. For him to tap into that power, he will need to continue the progress he has made on recognizing spin and staying in on it.

In the field, Pinckney may play the best center in the Cape. With his speed, he covers large swaths of the outfield and has made diving plays look routine. On top of that, his incredibly strong arm keeps runners at bay. When looking at Pinckney, one can see a lot of potential. Though he went undrafted and may return to Alabama, if he can continue to make improvements, he should put himself on the radar to get picked in next year’s draft.

2023 at Alabama:  .339/.442/.648 in 64 games. He led the Alabama team with 12 doubles and 151 total bases in 2023, and was second in runs (55), home runs (18) and RBIs (58).

[imref]

4-8 so far at Fredricksburg playing RF

[imref]

Cannon!

https://twitter.com/fxbgnats/status/1687623735627366401?s=46&t=VxK4vP11aMUU5dFhz5Ltrg

[IanRubbish]

Just hit one out, knocking in Morales, 4-2 FredNats

[imref]

Boom goes the dynamite:
https://twitter.com/natsfarm/status/1688266433623384064?s=46&t=VxK4vP11aMUU5dFhz5Ltrg

[imref]

Carolina League player of the week!

.500, 3 2B, 1HR, 6RBIs, 9R, 2BB, 3Ks.  OPS is 1.345 in 22 PAs

[welch]

The Nats should promote Pinckney in a week or so. Harrisburg is playing Wood, Hassell, and Young. Maybe they can put Young on the bench, or maybe the Nats should send the college draftees to Wilmington. Either way, Pinckney has adjusted to A pitching. Looks like Morales has, as well. Maybe Crews and Dugas are ready for A+ in a few more days.

[IanRubbish]

The Nats should promote Pinckney in a week or so. Harrisburg is playing Wood, Hassell, and Young. Maybe they can put Young on the bench, or maybe the Nats should send the college draftees to Wilmington. Either way, Pinckney has adjusted to A pitching. Looks like Morales has, as well. Maybe Crews and Dugas are ready for A+ in a few more days.

These SEC players were playing at a more challenging level than low A in college.   Pinckney is 22 and should be in Wilmington really soon.

[zimm_da_kid]

Still crushing it in a ball.  Strikeout rate below 25% and that was supposed to be his biggest issue

[imref]

Heading to Wilmington per Paulson

[zimm_da_kid]

Heading to Wilmington per Paulson

Deserved.  If he keeps hitting there And keeps his Ks under control, then with his tools he could be a top 100 guy by mid season next year

[welch]

Pinckney, Yoyo, and Crews have nothing left to prove in Fredericksburg.

[imref]

https://www.mlb.com/news/nationals-prospect-roundup-for-aug-27

[welch]

https://www.mlb.com/news/nationals-prospect-roundup-for-aug-27

Wow:

MLB.com: What was your favorite subject in school?

Pinckney: Definitely chemistry. I would say that and calculus. Calculus is really fun, too.

MLB.com: Why did those subjects click for you?

Pinckney: Math in general has always been pretty easy for me. I did well in physics and stuff like that. I took a lot of coding classes in college, and that was my major. That’s just kind of been the way it’s been wired for me.

"Calculus is really fun, too."

[nobleisthyname]

Wow:

"Calculus is really fun, too."

A Math/Physics/CS major (hard to tell which one he meant was his major exactly) who's also really good at baseball? That's definitely a unique combo.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

A Math/Physics/CS major (hard to tell which one he meant was his major exactly) who's also really good at baseball? That's definitely a unique combo.

probably calculates his routes to flies better than Statcast.

[imref]

Wow:

"Calculus is really fun, too."

I enjoyed calculus more than just about any other math class I took in high school and college because of the practical applications of it. And, I was fortunate to have a professor who explained Newton's thought process in his initial development of calculus rather than one who just forced us to memorize formulas.

I'd rather not talk about my experiences with chemistry.

[imref]

11-30 (all singles), 8BB, 7Ks in Wilmington so far. .367 / .513 / .367

[imref]

Pickney also promoted to Harrisburg.  Where will he play?

[Natsinpwc]

Pickney also promoted to Harrisburg.  Where will he play?

This is the last week of games.  They can rotate guys through DH.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Does assigning guys this late in the year to AA have any advantage in terms of rosters?

[aspenbubba]

This is the last week of games.  They can rotate guys through DH.

I'm thinking that this is in preparation of someone ( Crews or Wood) being promoted to Rochester or Hassell being demoted to Wilmington next season. I just don't see the upside of a promotion this late in the season other than a psychological one and an adjustment to AA for Pinkney.

[imref]

Does assigning guys this late in the year to AA have any advantage in terms of rosters?

Not that I know of. I assume this is more of a reward for their performance this year.

[Natsinpwc]

They won’t make any decisions on assignments for next year until the spring. 

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Not that I know of. I assume this is more of a reward for their performance this year.

RD had mentioned that there's no need to be AA or higher to go to the AFL as a regular player (not a taxi squad guy), and I can't imagine recently drafted guys are eligible for the minor league phase of Rule 5, so I don't know what is going on.