'Really, really motivating:' Priester fueled by Marlins' playoff celebration

The Pirates have playoff aspirations for 2024. But on Saturday, they watched the Marlins punch their ticket to the postseason on their home turf.

Jacob Stallings bear-hugging his pitcher in front of PNC Park's home plate with Josh Bell running onto the field to celebrate would have sounded like the scene for the Pirates clinching a couple years ago, but the party was mostly contained to PNC Park's visitor's clubhouse instead.

The Marlins were able to cash in on their run-scoring chances, while the Pirates went 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position and left a dozen men on base, leading to a 7-3 Pirates loss at PNC Park Saturday in the penultimate game of the season. It was a late stumble against a team playing for its playoff life, capping a long stretch of series against teams with October aspirations.

And for Saturday's starter, Quinn Priester, it's fuel.

"Seeing Miami celebrate on the field, that's really, really motivating to me," Priester said. "I know if I take care of business this offseason, I'm probably gonna be one of the best five guys and really make an impact next year with the things that I've learned. I feel like the second time up has been really, really good. I really like how I'm throwing the ball. We're really close. Giving me the offseason to really work on stuff, I'm excited to win more next year."

A more consistent, productive Priester would seriously boost those 2024 playoffs odds. It's something the Pirates have envisioned for him for years now. Back in 2021, Priester had a chance to clinch a trip to the Class High-A championship for Greensboro and struggled. He rebounded nicely in the championship series the following start, giving the player development brass confidence that he can do the same in the majors.

Well, he's going to need to do some rebounding in 2024. Being part of a playoff-caliber rotation is the right goal and achievable given his background, but there's a walk-before-you-can-run essence to this, too.

Stuff wise, there was a clear uptick in Priester's second stint in the majors compared to his first, showing some extra fastball velocity after a suspicious drop in heat earlier this year.

"There are some subtle adjustments we made to his delivery, and they clicked pretty quickly," Oscar Marin hinted to me.

There weren't specifics to share on what has been tweaked, but it's the first public acknowledgement that there is more going on than what Priester had said previously about just getting out of his own head and pitching.

"Just really feel like I've been freed up," Priester said. "Really feel like that's allowed me to command the ball better and compete in the zone. The more athletic I can be, the stronger I get this offseason, and the things that I've learned competing at the highest level of the game are really gonna push me forward in my game. I feel like I'm the best pitcher I've been right now and I'm gonna be an even better one in March."

Mix in him seeming to lean into the natural cut of his four-seamer -- Jason Delay said in Cincinnati last weekend that the four-seamer can behave like a cutter -- and there's hope that Priester could one day be a stable rotation hand. Pitching with improved stuff is a big part of getting to that point.

"That's extremely encouraging," Derek Shelton said. "I think it goes back to, the first time he was here, the game showed him what he was able to do in Double-A and Triple-A to be successful, sometimes you have to adjust. The fact that he made those adjustments and we've seen all the stuff tick up, I think is very encouraging."

Results wise, though? Saturday was more of the same on the scorecard. Priester allowed 10 hits and four earned runs over his 5 1/3 innings, as his better stuff didn't translate to more whiffs or strikeouts. Jazz Chisholm Jr. was the only one who beat him for an extra-base hit, but one of those hits was a go-ahead home run in the third.

Priester was pulled with one out in the sixth, where Dauri Moreta allowed both of the runners he inhertied to score on a fielder's choice and a sacrifice fly. Josh Bell would later double home a pair of runs in the eighth to give the Marlins breathing room at the end:

Thus concludes a rookie campaign where Priester finished with a 7.74 ERA with 36 strikeouts and 27 walks over 50 major-league innings. It's a first taste of the majors, but there's plenty of room for improvement.

But the first year is also in the books now. Now comes an opportunity to turn those growing pains and lessons into something tangible.

"Definitely that was the goal at the beginning of the year was to finish the year pitching here, pitching in the big leagues and learning as much as I can," Priester said. "Through the ups and the downs of this year, I learned a lot. I've had a lot of new experiences in my career and those are gonna make me a lot better. I'm just excited for the future of this team, future of myself and see what can we do."

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THE HIGHLIGHTS

THE INJURIES

• 60-day injured list: SS Oneil Cruz (ankle), RHP JT Brubaker (elbow), LHP Jarlin Garcia (elbow), INF Tucupita Marcano (knee), LHP Angel Perdomo (elbow), RHP Vince Velasquez (elbow), DH/OF Andrew McCutchen (Achilles)

THE LINEUPS

Shelton's card:

1. Jared Triolo, 1B
2. Bryan Reynolds, LF
3. Ke'Bryan Hayes, 3B
4. Jack Suwinski, RF
5. Henry Davis,DH
6. Endy Rodríguez, C
7. Liover Peguero, SS
8. Ji Hwan Bae, CF
9. Nick Gonzales, 2B

And for Skip Schumaker's Marlins:

1. Jorge Soler, DH
2. Josh Bell, 1B
3. Jake Burger, 3B
4. Jazz Chisholm Jr., CF
5. Bryan De La Cruz, LF
6. Jesús Sanchez, RF
7. Jon Berti, 2B
8. Garrett Hampson, SS
9. Jacob Stallings, C

THE SCHEDULE

One more for the road Sunday. Andre Jackson (1-3, 5.34) will get the nod. I'll have you covered.

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