MLB.com Pirates Top 30 Prospects
Posted: July 25th, 2017, 12:06 am
MLB.com just redid the top 100 list, and top 30 team lists. I know I'm probably the only one that follows this stuff, but it's a slow time of year and I'm bored watching this late night game.
1. Austin Meadows OF 22 years old AAA Indy (#20 overall)
Meadows has been hurt since June. He had a rough start to the year but was in a hot streak when he went down. They aren't going to resign Cutch, and Meadows is expected to be the replacement there. He's still a top 20 prospect in the game, so he's still very highly regarded by mostly everyone.
2. Mitch Keller RHP 21 years old High-A Bradenton (#22 overall)
Probably the next big homegrown righty the Pirates have. Cole and Taillon have been successes, and the jury's still out on Glasnow. The Pirates like guys in this mold, and Keller has been very good in his minor league career.
3. Shane Baz RHP 18 years old Rookie-A (#88 overall)
The Pirates first round pick immediately is graded as a top 100 prospect. High expectations for the kid that just turned 18. He throws high 90's and again is the power right hander the organization loves. Long time until he will see Pittsburgh, I would imagine.
4. Ke'Bryan Hayes 3B 20 years old High-A Bradenton
Hayes was their second of their two first round picks in 2015. He's been pretty good so far for a high school player and has moved through the system quicker than most. He still needs to develop power it seems, only 1 homer this year.
5. Cole Tucker SS 21 years old AA Altoona
Tucker was their first round pick in 2014, and just got promoted to Altoona a few days ago. His most intriguing stat: 36 stolen bases this season.
6. Kevin Newman SS 23 years old AAA Indy
Newman just got the move to AAA, and is presumably the next starting shortstop in waiting. Mercer becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2019. Newman has battled injuries and started the seasons slow, but has been on fire lately.
7. Steven Brault LHP 25 years old AAA Indy
Brault is having a strong season in Indy, 8-4 with a 2.06 ERA in 17 starts. He was recently called to the majors and will work out of the bullpen.
8. Will Craig 1B 22 years old High-A Bradenton
Craig was the first round pick in 2016. He is having a very strong year in his first full year playing professionally. He's batting .296 with a .395 OBP. He should be heading to Altoona in the near future, not much more he needs to show in class A.
9. Nick Kingham RHP 25 years old AAA Indy
Kingham is now the forgotten man. He was up there with Glasnow and Taillon before injuries and has fallen back a bit. With the current rotation, Brault and Glasnow, he's down the food chain a bit. Not to mention, he's not having a strong year with a 4.75 ERA for the Indians.
10. Kevin Kramer 2B 23 years old AA Altoona
Kramer is listed as the ninth best second-base prospect in baseball. He's batting .297 on the year, but has been on the DL for a while.
11. Steven Jennings RHP 18 years old Rookie-A
Jennings was their second round pick this year, and like Baz he's a tall right handed prep pitcher. Still has a ways to go in his development.
12. Taylor Hearn LHP 22 years old High-A Bradenton
Hearn was the second part in the Melancon trade. He may not have been a throw-in, he has 106 strikeouts in 87 innings this year, which is insane. He may eventually be a reliever. He is currently on the DL.
13. Gage Hinsz RHP 21 years old High-Bradenton
Hinsz was an over-slot pick in the 2014 draft. He's a tall projectable right handed pitcher from the high school ranks. Not having the best of seasons, but still young enough to improve.
14. Cal Mitchell OF 18 years old Rookie-A
Second round pick in this draft. At one time, many thought he'd be a top 10 pick but he dropped to the Pirates at the 50th overall pick.
15. Conner Uselton OF 19 years old Rookie-A
Uselton was another high schooler picked in this year's draft by the Pirates in the first three rounds. Like the other 3, it's still too early to know which way their careers will go, but they have high expectations.
16. Luis Escobar RHP 21 years old Low-A West Virginia
8-5 with a 4.01 ERA in 18 starts this season. Still in the lower parts of the organization.
17.Travis MacGregor RHP 19 years old Rookie-Bristol
MacGregor was the second round pick last year. He's a tall right hander that throws hard. Still in the lower ends of the minors.
18. Clay Holmes RHP 24 years old AAA-Indy
Holmes was expected to be in the majors by now, but has had an injury riddled career. He's supporting a 7-4 record with a 3.51 ERA in AAA this season. He should be considered a depth option for next season.
19. Yeudy Garcia RHP 24 years old AA Altoona
Garcia is struggling in Altoona this season, and is a bit old to still be in AA. He's been dropping in these rankings for a while now.
20. Jordan Luplow OF 23 years old AAA Indy
Luplow was having a strong season in AA and was promoted to AAA and has been on fire since that happened. Overall, he's hitting .299 with 21 home runs this season.
21. Stephen Alemais SS 22 years old High-A Bradenton
Alemais was a third round pick last year out of Tulane. The Pirates have really emphasized middle infielders in recent drafts it seems.
22. Edgar Santana RHP 25 years old AAA Indy
Santana has been between Pittsburgh and Indianapolis this season. He's a hard throwing reliever and is having a solid season in AAA, but it hasn't translated to the majors just yet.
23. Brandon Waddell LHP 23 years old AA Altoona
A highly successful college pitcher that has been promoted aggressively by the Pirates. He struggles and will probably never be more than a #4 starter at his max.
24. Brandon Ogle LHP 19 years old Rookie-Bristol
Another highly thought of high school pitcher the Pirates love. His development will take time.
25. Dovydas Neverauskas RHP 24 years old AAA Indy
The first Lithuanian born player to ever make the majors. He struggled in his brief stint in Pittsburgh, but has been solid in Indianapolis.
26. Tyler Eppler RHP 24 years old AAA Indy
Another depth option as a starting pitcher in AAA. He's low man on the totem pole and it's hard to see him having a major league role with the Pirates in the near future.
27. Domingo Robles LHP 19 years old Rookie-Bristol
He was signed back in 2014 out of the Dominican Republic. His future is still unknown for the most part.
28. Max Kranick RHP 20 years old Rookie
Kranick has yet to pitch this season. He was an 11th round pick in last year's draft.
29. Dario Agrazal RHP 22 years old AA Altoona
Currently on the DL. Spent most of the year in Bradenton, but got the call to Altoona before getting injured.
30. Eric Wood 3B 24 years old AAA Indy
Wood is a utility man, which the Pirates have a lot of between the majors and AAA. He's competing with guys like Moroff, Ngoepe, Bostrick, and Gosselin ect.
1. Austin Meadows OF 22 years old AAA Indy (#20 overall)
Meadows has been hurt since June. He had a rough start to the year but was in a hot streak when he went down. They aren't going to resign Cutch, and Meadows is expected to be the replacement there. He's still a top 20 prospect in the game, so he's still very highly regarded by mostly everyone.
2. Mitch Keller RHP 21 years old High-A Bradenton (#22 overall)
Probably the next big homegrown righty the Pirates have. Cole and Taillon have been successes, and the jury's still out on Glasnow. The Pirates like guys in this mold, and Keller has been very good in his minor league career.
3. Shane Baz RHP 18 years old Rookie-A (#88 overall)
The Pirates first round pick immediately is graded as a top 100 prospect. High expectations for the kid that just turned 18. He throws high 90's and again is the power right hander the organization loves. Long time until he will see Pittsburgh, I would imagine.
4. Ke'Bryan Hayes 3B 20 years old High-A Bradenton
Hayes was their second of their two first round picks in 2015. He's been pretty good so far for a high school player and has moved through the system quicker than most. He still needs to develop power it seems, only 1 homer this year.
5. Cole Tucker SS 21 years old AA Altoona
Tucker was their first round pick in 2014, and just got promoted to Altoona a few days ago. His most intriguing stat: 36 stolen bases this season.
6. Kevin Newman SS 23 years old AAA Indy
Newman just got the move to AAA, and is presumably the next starting shortstop in waiting. Mercer becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2019. Newman has battled injuries and started the seasons slow, but has been on fire lately.
7. Steven Brault LHP 25 years old AAA Indy
Brault is having a strong season in Indy, 8-4 with a 2.06 ERA in 17 starts. He was recently called to the majors and will work out of the bullpen.
8. Will Craig 1B 22 years old High-A Bradenton
Craig was the first round pick in 2016. He is having a very strong year in his first full year playing professionally. He's batting .296 with a .395 OBP. He should be heading to Altoona in the near future, not much more he needs to show in class A.
9. Nick Kingham RHP 25 years old AAA Indy
Kingham is now the forgotten man. He was up there with Glasnow and Taillon before injuries and has fallen back a bit. With the current rotation, Brault and Glasnow, he's down the food chain a bit. Not to mention, he's not having a strong year with a 4.75 ERA for the Indians.
10. Kevin Kramer 2B 23 years old AA Altoona
Kramer is listed as the ninth best second-base prospect in baseball. He's batting .297 on the year, but has been on the DL for a while.
11. Steven Jennings RHP 18 years old Rookie-A
Jennings was their second round pick this year, and like Baz he's a tall right handed prep pitcher. Still has a ways to go in his development.
12. Taylor Hearn LHP 22 years old High-A Bradenton
Hearn was the second part in the Melancon trade. He may not have been a throw-in, he has 106 strikeouts in 87 innings this year, which is insane. He may eventually be a reliever. He is currently on the DL.
13. Gage Hinsz RHP 21 years old High-Bradenton
Hinsz was an over-slot pick in the 2014 draft. He's a tall projectable right handed pitcher from the high school ranks. Not having the best of seasons, but still young enough to improve.
14. Cal Mitchell OF 18 years old Rookie-A
Second round pick in this draft. At one time, many thought he'd be a top 10 pick but he dropped to the Pirates at the 50th overall pick.
15. Conner Uselton OF 19 years old Rookie-A
Uselton was another high schooler picked in this year's draft by the Pirates in the first three rounds. Like the other 3, it's still too early to know which way their careers will go, but they have high expectations.
16. Luis Escobar RHP 21 years old Low-A West Virginia
8-5 with a 4.01 ERA in 18 starts this season. Still in the lower parts of the organization.
17.Travis MacGregor RHP 19 years old Rookie-Bristol
MacGregor was the second round pick last year. He's a tall right hander that throws hard. Still in the lower ends of the minors.
18. Clay Holmes RHP 24 years old AAA-Indy
Holmes was expected to be in the majors by now, but has had an injury riddled career. He's supporting a 7-4 record with a 3.51 ERA in AAA this season. He should be considered a depth option for next season.
19. Yeudy Garcia RHP 24 years old AA Altoona
Garcia is struggling in Altoona this season, and is a bit old to still be in AA. He's been dropping in these rankings for a while now.
20. Jordan Luplow OF 23 years old AAA Indy
Luplow was having a strong season in AA and was promoted to AAA and has been on fire since that happened. Overall, he's hitting .299 with 21 home runs this season.
21. Stephen Alemais SS 22 years old High-A Bradenton
Alemais was a third round pick last year out of Tulane. The Pirates have really emphasized middle infielders in recent drafts it seems.
22. Edgar Santana RHP 25 years old AAA Indy
Santana has been between Pittsburgh and Indianapolis this season. He's a hard throwing reliever and is having a solid season in AAA, but it hasn't translated to the majors just yet.
23. Brandon Waddell LHP 23 years old AA Altoona
A highly successful college pitcher that has been promoted aggressively by the Pirates. He struggles and will probably never be more than a #4 starter at his max.
24. Brandon Ogle LHP 19 years old Rookie-Bristol
Another highly thought of high school pitcher the Pirates love. His development will take time.
25. Dovydas Neverauskas RHP 24 years old AAA Indy
The first Lithuanian born player to ever make the majors. He struggled in his brief stint in Pittsburgh, but has been solid in Indianapolis.
26. Tyler Eppler RHP 24 years old AAA Indy
Another depth option as a starting pitcher in AAA. He's low man on the totem pole and it's hard to see him having a major league role with the Pirates in the near future.
27. Domingo Robles LHP 19 years old Rookie-Bristol
He was signed back in 2014 out of the Dominican Republic. His future is still unknown for the most part.
28. Max Kranick RHP 20 years old Rookie
Kranick has yet to pitch this season. He was an 11th round pick in last year's draft.
29. Dario Agrazal RHP 22 years old AA Altoona
Currently on the DL. Spent most of the year in Bradenton, but got the call to Altoona before getting injured.
30. Eric Wood 3B 24 years old AAA Indy
Wood is a utility man, which the Pirates have a lot of between the majors and AAA. He's competing with guys like Moroff, Ngoepe, Bostrick, and Gosselin ect.