Pirates 2018 Mid-Season Top 20 Prospects
Aug 5, 2018 1:25:33 GMT
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Post by Pirates GM (Alex) on Aug 5, 2018 1:25:33 GMT
Pirates Top Prospects - 2018 Mid-Season Update
1. LHP, MacKenzie Gore, A - One of the top pitching prospects in baseball, a top pick from the 2017 draft. Gore has struck out 64 in 48 innings so far in A-ball and looks every bit as dominant as he was billed out of the draft. A potential ace if everything comes together with four above average pitches. ETA - late 2020
2. RHP, Mitch Keller, AAA - After pitching well in 14 starts to begin the season in AA, Keller earned a call up to AAA where he has struggled in his first couple of starts. Keller has great control and a uses a great fastball/curveball combo to get hitters out. Looks like a front of the rotation piece. ETA - late 2018
3. RHP, Brent Honeywell, AAA - Honeywell was one the cusp of entering the big league rotation when he fell to TJ surgery this spring. While it's easy to forget about these guys, Honeywell has an unreal screwball that anchors his impressive five pitch mix. He'll be ready next season, but will he be the same guy? ETA - 2019
4. SS, Luis Urias, AAA - Urias has one of the best hit tools in all of the minor leagues as is currently fairing well in his first bout with AAA. He may not have the highest fantasy upside, but you never know, as guys with great hit tools seem to find more power recently in the majors. Great floor. ETA - late 2018
5. 3B, Alec Bohm, Rk - A top five pick from the 2018 draft, Bohm shows the makings of a future middle of the order hitter. His hit tool and power tool both grade as above average. There's a chance he might cross the diamond to first with defensive issues, but there's time to figure that out. ETA - 2021
6. 3B, Austin Riley, AAA - A big-time power bat, Riley was on a tear to start the season with an OPS over 1.000 in AA. He received a call up to AAA, where Riley has produced well. Now on the cusp of the majors, the third baseman has big power potential and the defense to stick at third. ETA - late 2018
7. RHP, Michel Baez, A+ - A strikeout machine, Baez has taken a small step back with a 9.6 K/9 rate after being above 12 in previous seasons, but it's still be a great second year in the minors for the 22-year old. He could be an upper rotation kind of guy with great fantasy upside with the ability to miss bats. ETA - late 2019
8. OF, Heliot Ramos, A - A big time tools guy, Ramos destroyed the rookie levels last season and has struggled a bit in full-season ball. Still, it's important to remember that Ramos is just 18, young for the level and has held his own. He has great power/speed tools that could translate into a can't miss hitter down the line. ETA - late 2020
9. LHP, Adrian Morejon, A+ - A 19-year old already at A+, Morejon has impressive in his time in the majors. He's striking out more than a batter per inning with a 3.36 ERA, so stock has stayed steady for the young starter. Three plus pitches are his calling card. ETA - late 2019
10. 1B, Brent Rooker, AA - A polished college bat that has flown through the minors if his first year and a half in the minor leagues. Rooker has great power potential with the ability to also play the outfield. While he will never hit for a high average, he should be a big run producer. ETA - 2019
11. C, Danny Jansen, AAA - A correction to his vision changed everything for Jansen a year ago, and he's now one of the game's top catching prospect on the cusp of the major leagues. Jansen has a great hit tool and could be a high-average hitter at a position that typically lacks above average batting. ETA - late 2018
12. OF, Kyle Lewis, AA - Since being one of the top picks in the 2016 draft, Lewis's career has been hit hard by injuries. He still flashes elite power with a solid hit tool, but probably doesn't have the speed promised out of the draft anymore. Eventually, potential will have to line up with numbers. ETA - late 2019
13. SS, Oneil Cruz, A - A 6'6 shortstop, Cruz has flown onto the prospect radar this season with an impressive campaign in his first year of full-season ball. Cruz has power, speed, and has around .300 this year. He should see a call up to A+ by the end of the year at just the age of 19. ETA - 2020
14. LHP, Cionel Perez, AAA - Perez has had a dominant year on the mound at higher levels, striking out 83 in 68 innings in AAA. He's currently pitching in the bullpen at the major league levels during the playoff run, but should stick in the rotation long-term with a great four pitch mix and a 98 mph fastball. ETA - 2018
15. LHP, Logan Allen, AA - Allen has 117 innings at AA this season with more than a strikeout per inning and a 2.62 ERA. He doesn't have the upside of other guys in this system, but could be a great mid-rotation arm by next season for Pittsburgh. ETA - 2019
16. OF, Christin Stewart, AAA - Stewart struggled to start the season, perhaps prolonging his awaited arrival to the major leagues. He has plus power from the left side of the plate with an average hit tool. He should be able to hold down a job in the outfield long-term. ETA - late 2018
17. OF, Anthony Alford, AAA - Alford was supposed to find his way to the major leagues this season, but has struggled, especially at the majors, resulting in some more time for seasoning in the minors. He has the potential for a plus hit tool and elite speed if everything comes together. ETA - 2019
18. RHP, Sandy Alcantara, AAA - A blazing fastball is Alcantara's calling card for a future in the Pirates rotation. Unfortunately, it hasn't exactly translated to strikeouts so far and his below average control means he could eventually be headed for the bullpen. They have time to try him as a starter though. ETA - 2018
19. OF, Jhaliyn Ortiz, A - Ortiz could be a future masher in the middle of the lineup for the Pirates, but it might be a long journey for him to get there. He's hit just .220 this year in 84 games in A-ball with a lot of strikeouts. Still young with loads of potential, would be foolish to judge him just on 2018 stats. ETA - 2021
20. RHP, Tony Santillan, AA - Another flamethrower with three plus pitches that needs to figure out the command part of pitching. Sounds like a lot of guys these days. Santillan has responded well to a mid-season promotion to AA with a sparkling 1.84 ERA and good K/BB ratio in his first 5 starts. ETA - late 2019
Next 5 considered... RHP, Cal Quantrill, AA... 2B, Cavan Biggio, AA... Jordyn Adams, OF, Rk... RHP, Jorge Guzman, A+... SS, Luis Rengifo, AAA
To be updated before the start of next season...
1. LHP, MacKenzie Gore, A - One of the top pitching prospects in baseball, a top pick from the 2017 draft. Gore has struck out 64 in 48 innings so far in A-ball and looks every bit as dominant as he was billed out of the draft. A potential ace if everything comes together with four above average pitches. ETA - late 2020
2. RHP, Mitch Keller, AAA - After pitching well in 14 starts to begin the season in AA, Keller earned a call up to AAA where he has struggled in his first couple of starts. Keller has great control and a uses a great fastball/curveball combo to get hitters out. Looks like a front of the rotation piece. ETA - late 2018
3. RHP, Brent Honeywell, AAA - Honeywell was one the cusp of entering the big league rotation when he fell to TJ surgery this spring. While it's easy to forget about these guys, Honeywell has an unreal screwball that anchors his impressive five pitch mix. He'll be ready next season, but will he be the same guy? ETA - 2019
4. SS, Luis Urias, AAA - Urias has one of the best hit tools in all of the minor leagues as is currently fairing well in his first bout with AAA. He may not have the highest fantasy upside, but you never know, as guys with great hit tools seem to find more power recently in the majors. Great floor. ETA - late 2018
5. 3B, Alec Bohm, Rk - A top five pick from the 2018 draft, Bohm shows the makings of a future middle of the order hitter. His hit tool and power tool both grade as above average. There's a chance he might cross the diamond to first with defensive issues, but there's time to figure that out. ETA - 2021
6. 3B, Austin Riley, AAA - A big-time power bat, Riley was on a tear to start the season with an OPS over 1.000 in AA. He received a call up to AAA, where Riley has produced well. Now on the cusp of the majors, the third baseman has big power potential and the defense to stick at third. ETA - late 2018
7. RHP, Michel Baez, A+ - A strikeout machine, Baez has taken a small step back with a 9.6 K/9 rate after being above 12 in previous seasons, but it's still be a great second year in the minors for the 22-year old. He could be an upper rotation kind of guy with great fantasy upside with the ability to miss bats. ETA - late 2019
8. OF, Heliot Ramos, A - A big time tools guy, Ramos destroyed the rookie levels last season and has struggled a bit in full-season ball. Still, it's important to remember that Ramos is just 18, young for the level and has held his own. He has great power/speed tools that could translate into a can't miss hitter down the line. ETA - late 2020
9. LHP, Adrian Morejon, A+ - A 19-year old already at A+, Morejon has impressive in his time in the majors. He's striking out more than a batter per inning with a 3.36 ERA, so stock has stayed steady for the young starter. Three plus pitches are his calling card. ETA - late 2019
10. 1B, Brent Rooker, AA - A polished college bat that has flown through the minors if his first year and a half in the minor leagues. Rooker has great power potential with the ability to also play the outfield. While he will never hit for a high average, he should be a big run producer. ETA - 2019
11. C, Danny Jansen, AAA - A correction to his vision changed everything for Jansen a year ago, and he's now one of the game's top catching prospect on the cusp of the major leagues. Jansen has a great hit tool and could be a high-average hitter at a position that typically lacks above average batting. ETA - late 2018
12. OF, Kyle Lewis, AA - Since being one of the top picks in the 2016 draft, Lewis's career has been hit hard by injuries. He still flashes elite power with a solid hit tool, but probably doesn't have the speed promised out of the draft anymore. Eventually, potential will have to line up with numbers. ETA - late 2019
13. SS, Oneil Cruz, A - A 6'6 shortstop, Cruz has flown onto the prospect radar this season with an impressive campaign in his first year of full-season ball. Cruz has power, speed, and has around .300 this year. He should see a call up to A+ by the end of the year at just the age of 19. ETA - 2020
14. LHP, Cionel Perez, AAA - Perez has had a dominant year on the mound at higher levels, striking out 83 in 68 innings in AAA. He's currently pitching in the bullpen at the major league levels during the playoff run, but should stick in the rotation long-term with a great four pitch mix and a 98 mph fastball. ETA - 2018
15. LHP, Logan Allen, AA - Allen has 117 innings at AA this season with more than a strikeout per inning and a 2.62 ERA. He doesn't have the upside of other guys in this system, but could be a great mid-rotation arm by next season for Pittsburgh. ETA - 2019
16. OF, Christin Stewart, AAA - Stewart struggled to start the season, perhaps prolonging his awaited arrival to the major leagues. He has plus power from the left side of the plate with an average hit tool. He should be able to hold down a job in the outfield long-term. ETA - late 2018
17. OF, Anthony Alford, AAA - Alford was supposed to find his way to the major leagues this season, but has struggled, especially at the majors, resulting in some more time for seasoning in the minors. He has the potential for a plus hit tool and elite speed if everything comes together. ETA - 2019
18. RHP, Sandy Alcantara, AAA - A blazing fastball is Alcantara's calling card for a future in the Pirates rotation. Unfortunately, it hasn't exactly translated to strikeouts so far and his below average control means he could eventually be headed for the bullpen. They have time to try him as a starter though. ETA - 2018
19. OF, Jhaliyn Ortiz, A - Ortiz could be a future masher in the middle of the lineup for the Pirates, but it might be a long journey for him to get there. He's hit just .220 this year in 84 games in A-ball with a lot of strikeouts. Still young with loads of potential, would be foolish to judge him just on 2018 stats. ETA - 2021
20. RHP, Tony Santillan, AA - Another flamethrower with three plus pitches that needs to figure out the command part of pitching. Sounds like a lot of guys these days. Santillan has responded well to a mid-season promotion to AA with a sparkling 1.84 ERA and good K/BB ratio in his first 5 starts. ETA - late 2019
Next 5 considered... RHP, Cal Quantrill, AA... 2B, Cavan Biggio, AA... Jordyn Adams, OF, Rk... RHP, Jorge Guzman, A+... SS, Luis Rengifo, AAA
To be updated before the start of next season...