The Pittsburgh Pirates have acquired right-handed pitcher Zach Thompson, outfielder Connor Scott and right-handed pitcher Kyle Nicolas from the Miami Marlins in exchange for catcher Jacob Stallings. The announcement was made by General Manager Ben Cherington.
The 28-year-old Thompson posted a 3.24 ERA (75.0ip/27er), 66 strikeouts and .227 batting average against while making 26 appearances (14 starts) with Miami in 2021. He struck out a career-high 11 batters in his fourth big league start on June 26 vs. Washington while making each of his first 13 big league appearances as a member of the starting rotation.
Thompson, who was originally selected by the Pirates in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft before opting for college, was also selected by the Chicago White Sox in the fifth round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft. He has gone 27-29 with three saves, a 4.11 ERA (519.0ip/237er) and 472 strikeouts in 182 appearances (67 starts) in his minor league career.
The 22-year-old Scott spent the entire 2021 season with High-A Beloit, where he ranked sixth in the HighA Central League in total bases (176) and extra-base hits (41) while hitting .276 with 25 doubles, six triples, 10 home runs, 46 RBI and 14 stolen bases in 96 games. Scott also finished third among all Marlins farmhands in doubles (25), fourth in total bases and fifth in extra base hits. Scott, who is currently ranked by FanGraphs as Miami’s 18th-best prospect, was selected 13th overall by the Marlins in the first round of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft out of H.B. Plant High School in Tampa, FL, before making his professional debut one year later.
The 22-year-old Nicolas was selected 61st overall by the Marlins with the Competitive Balance B round pick in the 2020 First-Year Player Draft out of Ball State University. Nicolas led all Marlins farmhands with 136 strikeouts during his first professional season in 2021 while making a total of 21 appearances (20 starts) between High-A Beloit and Double-A Pensacola. Nicolas, who was listed as Miami’s 18th-best prospect in FanGraphs mid-season rankings, also finished 13th in strikeouts among all pitchers in Minor League Baseball 22-years-old or younger, according to FanGraphs
