The Pirates’ minor league system may not be among the elite just yet, but few would argue it isn’t at least very solid. Gone are the days of guys like Brian Bixler being a top prospect- the Pirates now have a deep system full of talent and potential.
The 2012 season saw players like Alen Hanson and Gregory Polanco breaking out and making a name for themselves. Here is a list of players who could do the same next year.
OF Josh Bell- Bell missed the majority of his highly anticipated first pro season with a knee injury, which ultimately required surgery. The missed development time is unfortunate, but Bell still has the potential to become a great hitter with 30+ homerun power.
RHP Luis Heredia- Heredia has already “broken out” to an extent with his impressive stint in State College; if he continues his dominance of older hitters next year, he could soon be one of the top prospects in all of baseball.
RHP Clay Holmes– Heredia wasn’t the only teenage pitcher to star in State College, Clay Holmes was spectacular this season and if he keeps it up he could be a top prospect by this time next year.
INF Dilson Herrera– The 18-year-old Columbian could be the next Latin American signee to burst onto the scene. He’s drawn comparisons to Alen Hanson due to his hitting ability and impressive power production despite his small size (Herrera was third in the GCL with 7 HR). But Herrera is much stockier than Hanson and not nearly as fast. His future is likely at second base.
RHP Tyler Glasnow– The 2011 fifth round draft pick pitched well for the GCL Pirates, posting a 2.10 ERA while striking out over a batter per inning. The 6-foot-7 right hander consistently sat 92-94 mph with his fastball and dialed it up to 96 in his lone start in State College.
C Wyatt Mathisen– The Pirates’ second round draft pick possesses rare athleticism for a catcher and has all the tools to soon surpass Tony Sanchez as the best catching prospect in the system.
OF Barrett Barnes– The supplemental first rounder from Texas Tech missed some time due to a shin injury late in the season but could soon become a top prospect with a good performance in West Virginia, where he will likely start next season. He’s a center fielder right now but is probably destined for a corner OF position as he lacks the arm strength for CF.
CF Harold Ramirez– The Columbian outfielder received a hefty $1.05M signing bonus last July and made the jump straight to the GCL. His debut was delayed due to an infection but he showed glimpses of the skills that earned him the second largest international signing bonus in Pirates history, behind only Luis Heredia’s $2.6M in 2010.
CF Elvis Escobar- Escobar also received a large signing bonus in 2011 ($570,000). Like Ramirez, he was sent straight to the GCL, where he held his own, hitting for a .274/.338/.374 line in 190 at-bats
C Jin De-Jhang- The Taiwanese catcher received a $250,000 signing bonus in 2011. He played well in his first pro season with the GCL Pirates, hitting for average (.305), and showing good defensive skills and arm strength behind the plate.
SS Max Moroff- The Pirates’ 2012 16th round draft pick was swayed from a commitment to Central Florida with a $300,000 signing bonus. He had an impressive debut in the GCL, hitting for a .343 average. If he can stick at short he could become a top-10 prospect.
Obviously, most of these guys won’t go on to have impactful major league careers, and some of them may fizzle out next year. But all of these players have potential, and the Pirates would be happy to get a few pieces to the puzzle out of this group.
Photo Credit: MiLB.com
