There's been some good stuff coming out over the last week regarding the early performances of some of the Pirates top prospects. In today's Pittsburgh Tribune Review, DK talks about Cole, Taillon, and Luis Heredia. Included in that were two interesting tidbits of information.

Taillon, 20, was the $6.5 million No. 2 overall pick the previous summer, and he's 6-6, throws 96 mph and has a curve and changeup to match.

He had a 3.98 ERA over 23 starts in his pro debut with Class A West Virginia, a good figure in light of the Pirates limiting his innings and urging him to focus on simple fastball command.

"I understand what they were doing," Taillon said. "Instead of having five good pitches, I worked on trying to have three great pitches."

Expect him to be unleashed soon.

Heredia is the wild card. He's still a baby at 17, but a growth spurt this offseason has him up to 6-7, 220 pounds -- suddenly taller than the rest -- before he's gotten out of rookie ball.

"I'm stronger, too," Heredia beamed. "It's 98 now, I think."

The fastball, he meant.

Read more: Kovacevic: Kovacevic: Pirates invest in a new day - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/columnists/s_786382.html#.T2AajST5yws.twitter#ixzz1p5poFUyt

We now have Taillon himself admitting that the Pirates were limiting his pitches and, more importantly, we have Luis Heredia getting larger and seeing his fastball tick up to 98 M.P.H. at age 17. Wow.

Also, Tim Williams over at Pirates Prospects has been saying how improved Stetson Allie has looked this spring, and posted this video of him striking out Josh Bell on three pitches. (Williams also has said that Bell has looked great and it wouldn't shock him if Bell approached 30 home runs this season in Low-A)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4JU9ZbMRnw&feature=player_embedded

Seems like a pretty good time to be a fan of prospects in the Pirate's system.