Zack Melynchek

UA Cognitive Science ‘27 | @AlabamaSB Student Manager

[Zack Melynchek @ZMelynchek]

@Pirates @OspreyBSB Stone was a First-Team All-ASUN honoree. He posted a 2.85 ERA in 79 IP across 15 appearances and 12 starts. The fastball and slider both get big time whiffs against both sides of the plate.

One easy way to upgrade the arsenal would be to introduce a changeup.

[Zack Melynchek @ZMelynchek]

The 20th round pick of the @Pirates, LHP Dakota Stone (@OspreyBSB) has been assigned to Low-A Bradenton. FB is 90-93 (T94) and has impressive armside run. The SL is his best pitch and gets elite whiff numbers. Stone struck out 29.8% of batters in 2026.

[Zack Melynchek @ZMelynchek]

@Pirates The 25-year-old Owens was listed by FanGraphs as the Tigers #43 prospect ahead of the 2026 season. In 43 IP at Double-A this year, he posted a 4.19 ERA, 3.78 xFIP, and 7.4 BB%. Owens fills up the zone with a 53% zone rate. Looks to get ground balls, 56% of batted balls are GB.

[Zack Melynchek @ZMelynchek]

The @Pirates have assigned free agent RHP Tyler Owens to Double-A Altoona. Released by Detroit, Owens brings a unique and deceptive mix, with a cut-ride FB sitting 94-95 T96, short slider, and a splitter. Owens pitched 3 innings for the Tigers in 2025

[Zack Melynchek @ZMelynchek]

@Pirates @AztecBaseball Lettow posted a 3.81 ERA, 4.50 FIP, and 4.82 xFIP over 78.1 IP, 15 GS in 2026. The fastball (90-93) has elite armside run. Striking out batters at a 27% clip, Lettow gets impressive whiff rates, especially on the SL, CT & SW. Not heavily dependent on GB, w/ a 46% fly ball rate.

[Zack Melynchek @ZMelynchek]

The @Pirates have assigned 12th round pick RHP Rohan Lettow (@AztecBaseball) to Low-A Bradenton. Lettow brings a genuine six pitch mix: FB, CT, CB, SL, SW, and CH. Lettow uses the mix to keep opposing hitters off-balance and uncomfortable, especially RHH.

[Zack Melynchek @ZMelynchek]

Congrats @AlexisPupillo!! One of the best!

[Elon Softball @ElonSoftball]

Welcome to Elon!

Pleased to announce Alexis Pupillo as the newest addition to our softball coaching staff!

She joins the Phoenix following her playing career at @AlabamaSB, where she earned NFCA All-America honors with the Crimson Tide!

#EUSB 🥎 #Team50

[Zack Melynchek @ZMelynchek]

@KSUOwlsBSB @Pirates Helman filled up the zone and got down the mound well, averaging 6.6 feet of extension.

Increased extension along with the move to diversify the arsenal away from what was almost entirely 4SFB is a smart and will allow his stuff to play up even more.

[Zack Melynchek @ZMelynchek]

Yesterday, Nate Helman (@KSUOwlsBSB) made his @Pirates professional debut for Bradenton. He pitched a clean inning and a third with 2 K's. Primarily relying on two different fastballs, one with 14" of armside run (2-seam?) that sat 93-94 and a cut fastball at 89-91.

[Zack Melynchek @ZMelynchek]

@Pirates @KSUOwlsBSB Helman would be a quality candidate for the development of a splitter. Hopefully in his debut for Bradenton, we see him throw a few non-fastballs which may allow his fastball to be more effective than it has been.

[Zack Melynchek @ZMelynchek]

17th round pick of the @Pirates, RHP Nate Helman (@KSUOwlsBSB) has been assigned to Low-A Bradenton. Helman threw almost exclusively fastballs in college, sitting 92-94 T96 with impressive ride. The righty struck out 28% of batters faced in 2026.

[Zack Melynchek @ZMelynchek]

@Pirates @KSUOwlsBSB In 31 innings of work, Helman posted a 5.81 ERA, 40 K, and 15 BB. He is prone to allowing hard contact despite the plus fastball - likely due to the lack of a secondary offering. He will occasionally show a cutter or an 11-5 curveball.

[Zack Melynchek @ZMelynchek]

@Cardinals The biggest concern continues to be the contact skills. Whiffing 36.2% and a zone contact rate of 72.6% is a huge concern that hinders his projectability. But the turnaround for what was looking like a failed prospect is pretty exciting.

[Zack Melynchek @ZMelynchek]

Ranked as high as #9 in the @Cardinals system in 2024, OF Won-Bin Cho currently sits at #54 on FanGraphs. But the 23-year-old has re-established his prospect pedigree this season and since being promoted to AA Springfield has posted a 144 wRC+, 11 HR and a 17% BB% in 165 PA.

[Zack Melynchek @ZMelynchek]

@Cardinals Cho has continued to cut down on his K%, from 31.3% in 2024 (A+), 24.4% in 2025 (A/A+), and now 22.6% (A+/AA). It is easy to give up on a prospect when they struggle out of the gate, but Cho turns 23 today, a very respectable age for AA.

[Zack Melynchek @ZMelynchek]

@Brewers Ebel was 38 for 41 on stolen base attempts at Wilson this season. He should be able to stick at shortstop defensively with a capable glove and arm.

[Zack Melynchek @ZMelynchek]

Brady Ebel, the @Brewers MLB Pipeline #5 prospect was recently promoted from Low-A Wilson to High-A Wisconsin after posting a 127 wRC+ despite a slow April.

April: 100 PA, .276 wOBA, 0 HR, 12.1% PullAir%
May-August: 305 PA, .400 wOBA, 10 HR, 17.5% PullAir%

[Zack Melynchek @ZMelynchek]

@SanJoseStateBSB @Pirates Calzadiaz was almost exclusively FB/CB at SJSU, so it was good to see him throw a changeup twice on Friday. It will certainly be a developmental focus from the Pirates. The walks were a concern at school; there will need to be an emphasis on throwing the curveball for a strike.

[Zack Melynchek @ZMelynchek]

Kyle Calzadiaz (@SanJoseStateBSB) made his @Pirates organizational debut Friday in Bradenton. Has a plus fastball that sat 94-95, good ride w/ 20" iVB from an over-the-top slot. Displayed a nice 12-6 curveball at 84mph, 12" vertical drop, and 2600rpm.

1 K, 2 BB, 0 H, 1.1 IP.

[Zack Melynchek @ZMelynchek]

@Pirates @VMIbaseco @crosscutters In 2025, Prince had a .507 OBP and stole 46 bases (3rd most in D1 baseball). The quality bat-to-ball skills mean limited whiffs and low strikeout rates, just a 9.6% K% in 2026. The Pirates will hope to boost his EV's, but his approach and speed make him an intriguing signing.

[Zack Melynchek @ZMelynchek]

The @Pirates signed @VMIbaseco outfielder Owen Prince to an UDFA contract. Prince has an elite approach at the plate, an extremely low chase rate, and walked at a 24.8% clip in the Draft League. He was 24/26 on stolen bases for @crosscutters this summer.