The Pirates took some big risks in this years draft, signing Bell and Holmes. This kind of spending should pay dividends down the road. Very pitching heavy system, with two of the top arms in baseball.
1. Gerrit Cole, RHP
After Rendon’s injuries, it was clear that Cole was the best player in the 2011 draft. His fastball reaches the upper-90′s consistently and throws both a slider and changeup that rate as a 70. His command has improved in his years at UCLA, and will still need a little more improvement. I still have some mechanical concerns with Cole, as his elbow gets very high in the windup. Cole has ace potential and is not far from getting there. Obviously one of the top prospects in baseball.
2. Jameson Taillon, RHP
It was not just 2011 where the Pirates took the top pitcher available. Taillon was dominant in high school and pitched well in Low-A this season. Taillon features an upper-90′s fastball and an outstanding, hard curveball. He lived up to expectations this season, posting a sub-4 ERA and a K/BB of over 4/1. Another one of the top pitchers in the minors, with ace potential.
3. Starling Marte, OF
2011 was another strong year for Marte, and he made significant progress with his power, posting an ISO% of .168, easily the highest in three seasons. Marte cut down some on the strikeouts this season and will need to continue cutting them down, while walking more frequently moving forward. He has above average speed that allows him to play a very strong defensive CF. Marte needs some more polish, but continues to make big strides.
4. Josh Bell, OF
Telling all major league clubs that he wouldn’t sign a pro contract didn’t stop the Pirates from taking Bell in the 2nd round. He had one of the top HS bats in this year’s draft, with high power potential, as well as the ability to hit for average. Profiles as a RF in pro ball.
5. Robbie Grossman, OF
Made huge strides this season. Check out what we wrote about Grossman in our FSL Top 10.
6. Luis Heredia, RHP
At 17 years of age and a 6-6, 185 lb. frame, it should be clear Heredia has a long way to go. That said, his stuff is nearly as good as anybody’s in the system (truly saying a lot in this system). His fastball already sits in the mid-90′s and his curve is above average. We did not get to see much of Heredia this season as he pitched just 30 innings in rookie ball. Mechanics are solid, but does have a tendency to fall to 1B in his follow through.
7. Tony Sanchez, C
After a strong 2010 campaign, Sanchez struggled in AA in 2011, posting a .658 OPS. Part of this was due to an unfavorable BABIP, but his power seemed to disappear as well. That said, I am confident Sanchez will return to form next season, as he has continually showed strong walk and strikeout numbers. He projects to be league average player both at and behind the plate.
8. Clay Holmes, RHP
Cole and Bell were not the only players that the Pirates went well above slot to sign, this season. They took Holmes in the 9th round, signing him for $1.2 million. Holmes has a long way to go, but has a strong fastball and an ideal pitchers frame. His slider needs consistency and there are mechanical issues to iron out. Holmes does have plenty of upside and should be a worthy project.
9. Jose Osuna, OF
His career as a pitcher was short-lived, and it has been for the better, thus far. Osuna posted an impressive OPS of .911 in the GCL this season. He walked nearly as many times as he struck out in around 200 PA’s this season. He will likely wind up in left, where he has plenty of bat to be a good player. Osuna is certainly ready for a full season and is a strong breakout candidate for 2012.
10. Zack Von Rosenberg, RHP
Despite the ERA, Von Rosenberg was very impressive in his first full season. Very few pitchers can post a K/BB of 5/1 at age 20. Von Rosenberg was hurt by a high BABIP and fluky LOB%. His fastball sits in the low-90′s, where his command allows it to play as a plus pitch. His changeup also has plus potential, and he throws an average curve. Von Rosenberg will need to keep the ball low in the zone more consistently to cut down on the HR’s.
11. Jeff Locke, LHP
Locke has been steady throughout the minors and was again this season. He features a fastball in the low-90′s, to go with an average slider and change. Locke excels with his command, where he frequently walked less than 2 per 9 IP the past few seasons. Locke does not have great upside, but is ready to help Pittsburgh next season and could be a steady presence in the back of the rotation.
12. Rudy Owens, LHP
This season was not as impressive as Owens breakout 2010 campaign. Owens saw a large decrease in strikeouts, as well as an increase in his walk total. That said, his command is still very good and he has impressive mechanics. With a fastball around 90 to go with an average change and curve, the question will be if Owens will ever develop the ability to strike enough hitters out. If so, he has a future similar to Locke, at the back end of a rotation.
13. Alex Dickerson, 1B
I saw Dickerson live many times and though IU used him frequently in LF, there is little chance he will be able to stay there. Dickerson did excel at the plate, however, and while he does not have 40 HR potential, Dickerson should be able to hit 25 with a strong average. He consistently gets on base through walks.
14. Colton Cain, LHP
While Cain posted a stronger ERA than his rotation-mate, Von Rosenberg, he may not have been as impressive. Cain struck out less than 7 hitters per 9 IP, though he did a good job of keeping the walks down. None of his pitches currently rate as above average, but Cain is young enough and has already shown improvement.
15. Diego Moreno, RHP
Moreno throws heat, and throws a nasty slider in the upper-80′s. He has had control and injury issues, but could be a force in the Pirates bullpen next season.
16. Zack Dodson, LHP
Posted an impressive 2.57 ERA this season, and did it with strong command, walking just over 2 hitters per 9 IP this season. Like many in this system, Dodson makes up for an average fastball with strong command. His curve is one of the better in the system. Has the upside of a 3-4 starter.
17. Stetson Allie, RHP
When I saw Allie pitch at Wrigley, he threw the 99 mph fastballs as advertised, but the first few came closer to hitting me than being a strike. Control was a concern and still a huge one after a season where Allie walked 1 hitter per IP. He throws gas and features a solid slider that hits 90, but unless the control is figured out, Allie will find himself in the bullpen for good sooner rather than later.
18. Bryan Morris, RHP
Morris pitched the majority of his innings out of the pen this season, not surprising for a pitcher with his mechanics and injury history. Morris’ fastball sits in the mid-90′s and he has a curve that is a true strikeout pitch. Morris is a better fit for the pen, where he will be useful. Expect Morris to contribute to the big league club in 2012.
19. Gorkys Hernandez, OF
Hernandez has been lauded for his defense throughout the minors, but has continued to struggle at the plate. In a full season of AAA ball, Hernandez improved, showing some power and a solid decrease in strikeouts. He does not fit well in Pittsburgh, with McCutchen ahead of him, but there are plenty of teams interested in a player with defense as strong as Hernandez.
20. Jordy Mercer, INF
Mercer built on his 2010 campaign in AA, with a OPS of .816 this season, due to more power. He could use more refining in AAA, but can play an effective SS and 2B and should be ready to help the Pirates by the all star break.