2010 Pittsburgh Pirates Top 20 Prospects in Review
Here is a review of the 2010 Pirates prospect list, originally published December 16, 2009. THIS IS A REVIEW OF THE OLD LIST AND PRE-SEASON GRADES. THIS IS NOT A NEW LIST. The 2011 list and new grades won't be ready until the season is over and I start writing the book.
1) Pedro Alvarez, 3B, Grade A: .277/.363/.533 for Triple-A Indianapolis, .239/.318/.443 with 10 homers in 49 major league games. He strikes out a lot and seems unlikely to hit for a great average, but the power is genuine.
2) Jose Tabata, OF, Grade B: .308/.373/.424 in Triple-A, .303/.353/.394 in the majors, 12 steals. The question still remains...will he develop power? He's still young, just turned 22 yesterday.
3) Tony Sanchez, C, Grade B: .314/.416/.454 in 59 games for High-A Bradenton. Out with broken jaw. He's a good prospect and I think the Pirates took too much criticism for drafting him last year.
4) Zack Von Rosenberg, RHP, Grade B-: 3.53 ERA, 30/11 K/BB in 51 innings for State College in the New York-Penn League, 53 hits. Throwing strikes, as expected. Would like to see more strikeouts next year.
5) Tim Alderson, RHP, Grade B-: 6.07 ERA with 64/35 K/BB in 102 innings, 124 hits combined between Double-A Altoona and Bradenton, has been getting killed (20 runs in 15.2 innings) since being demoted last month. He's falling apart...the Giants knew what they were doing when they traded him.
6) Brad Lincoln, RHP, Grade B-: 3.92 ERA, 71/19 K/BB in 83 innings for Triple-A Indianapolis, 70 hits. 6.57 ERA with 21/14 K/BB in 51 major league innings, 64 hits. There is some risk he may be a Quadruple-A guy, but I would give him more chances.
7) Chase D'Arnaud, INF, Grade C+: .253/.336/.372 for Altoona, 27 steals. Speed is his best offensive attribute. Range and reliability may not be good enough for shortstop, but defensive numbers at second base are better.
8) Starling Marte, OF, Grade C+: .318/.404/.459 with 16 steals in 45 games between Bradenton and GCL injury rehab. Speed is best attribute, power still in the raw stages.
9) Rudy Owens, LHP, Grade C+: 2.74 ERA, 106/22 K/BB in 128 innings, 107 hits for Altoona, 1.42 GO/AO. A strong season, should see the majors next year.
10) Ronald Uviedo, RHP, Grade C+: 5.49 ERA, 67/31 K/BB in 62 innings between Altoona and Double-A New Hampshire in Toronto system, traded for Dana Eveland. Getting killed with homers, 15 out of 56 hits.
11) Victor Black, RHP, Grade C+: Has missed almost entire year with oblique and shoulder injuries.
12) Daniel McCutchen, RHP, Grade C+: 3.99 ERA, 39/19 K/BB in 79 innings in Triple-A, 71 hits. 6.64 ERA in 41 major league innings, 49 hits, 22/19 K/BB, 11 homers. He's fun to root for but his stuff may be just a bit too short for the majors.
13) Brett Lorin, RHP, Grade C+: 3.71 ERA with 29/8 K/BB in 29 innings between GCL Pirates (rehab) and Low-A West Virginia, recovering from hip injury. He's a sleeper for next year.
14) Robbie Grossman, OF, Grade C+: .240/.341/.350 for Bradenton, 58 walks, 101 strikeouts in 400 at-bats. Draws some walks and has stolen 13 bases, but power remains negligible and strikes out too much.
15) Diego Moreno, RHP, Grade C+: Interesting season, 1.07 ERA in 34 innings for Bradenton, just 13 hits, 50/5 K/BB ratio. In Double-A, 7.2 innings, 10 hits, six runs, but a 12/3 K/BB. Already 24 but should be watched next year.
16) Justin Wilson, LHP, Grade C+: 3.35 ERA, 101/54 K/BB in 116 innings for Altoona, 93 hits, 1.55 GO/AO. A nice solid season all-around.
17) Colton Cain, LHP, Grade C+: 4.45 ERA in 32 innings between GCL Pirates and State College, 31/14 K/BB, 24 hits. Samples too small to mean much. Next year should tell us more.
18) Gorkys Hernandez, OF, Grade C: .266/.333/.334, 17 steals for Altoona, 95 strikeouts in 92 games. Glove and speed are assets, but I'm doubting he'll hit enough.
19) Trent Stevenson, RHP, Grade C: 4.36 ERA with 21/12 K/BB in 33 innings, 33 hits between GCL and State College. More sample size issues here. Low-A staff should be very interesting next year.
20) Brooks Pounders, RHP, Grade C: 4.60 ERA, 26/5 K/BB in 31 innings for State College, 33 hits. Excellent K/BB ratio.
The pitching staff at Low-A next year should be very intriguing, with ZVR, Cain, Stevenson, Pounders, and probably Jameson Taillon heading there. Lefties Owens and Wilson could help in the majors next year, and I still find a healthy Lorin to be a good sleeper. The hitting is less interesting once you get past the Alvarez/Tabata/Sanchez trio. I didn't believe in Neil Walker as more than a Grade C guy pre-season, and I still wonder if he can maintain his '10 performance next year.
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