Yesterday, we examined how the Top Five of the Pirates’ farm system was faring in 2013. Today, we’ll finish the rest of the list with 6-10.
6. Josh Bell/OF
A: 323 PA, .290/.353/.466, 84 H, 23 2B, 8 HR, 51 RBIs
Bell underwent left knee surgery in April of last year, forcing Pirates’ fans to wait on watching his development. But overall, the wait has been worth it.
His line is a bit bizarre. Bell drew just three walks in June after 21 in May. He’s in a home run slump, last going yard on June 4th. Yet his slugging and OPS have remained in line with his April and May marks. No doubt in part by racking up six doubles in June while batting .325. It’s unlikely he’ll match his scorching hot month of April that saw him hit 12 doubles and drive in 28 but the power is still there.
This is of course a stretch but his season SLG and OPS of .466 and .818 would put him in the Top 50 of both categories in the majors and ahead of a masher like Pedro Alvarez.
His 51 RBIs leads West Virginia by a wide margin following Stetson Allie’s promotion to AA (As an aside, Allie is struggling hitting .205 with zero homers in 11 games).
Once Bell levels out, he’ll be an excellent source of power in the outfield.
7. Kyle McPherson/SP
AAA: 2 GS, 4.2 IP, 0-1 19.29 ERA 3.21 WHIP 2/4 K/BB
Suffice to say McPherson would like to forget 2013. Two terrible outings followed by finding himself on the shelf with a right arm injury that has plagued him all season. He received an injection in his right arm in mid-April and was shut down for the month of May.
He experienced soreness after throwing a bullpen session in late June and has been shut down again. At this point, it’s fair to say McPherson will not make an appearance the rest of the season and surgery is becoming a likelier option.
The righty threw 26.1 innings with a rock solid 2.73 ERA in 2012.
8. Justin Wilson/RP
MLB: 47 IP, 5-1 2.11 ERA 1.02 WHIP 41/19 K/BB
Arguably one of the unsung heroes of the team, Wilson is one of many bullpen arms that seem to be impenetrable on a nightly basis.
He bounced back from two rough consecutive outings in early June by allowing just one earned in his last seven appearances. Wilson is what you’re looking for in a reliever, especially for the close games the Pirates’ always find themselves in. He doesn’t allow hits (just 29), is a singles pitcher who keeps the ball down (only five XB hits since May 1st) and can punch batters out with a fastball that sits in the mid to upper 90s.
Still just 25, Wilson will continue to evolve potentially finding a home as the club’s set-up man or closer in the future. Don’t forget he was a starter his entire minor league career and could even spot start for the Pirates in a pinch.
9. Barrett Barnes/OF
A: 142 PA .258/.326/.367 33 H, 5 2B, 3 HR, 18 RBI, 9 SB
Barnes has done a little of everything this season but nothing exceptionally well. A little bit of power, a little bit of speed all wrapped up in a sub-par average and marginal K/BB ratio (3.18:1). To be fair, Barnes is likely still settling into the season after missing nearly all of May with a hamstring injury.
His 2012 numbers were slightly better (.288/.401/.456 slash) but still relatively underwhelming. He’ll have to excel somewhere to warrant making this list again next year.
10. Clay Holmes/SP
A: 16 GS, 72.1 IP, 2-5 4.98 ERA 1.62 WHIP. 48/49 K/BB
Holmes has been unable to come anywhere near the numbers he put up in 2012 (2.28 ERA, 35 Hits Allowed in 59 innings). His WHIP has jumped six tenths from last season and the K/BB ratio tells you everything you need to know about his command.
In fairness, he has gotten better allowing two earned or fewer in three of his June starts. But the strikeout and walk numbers are still underwhelming and aren’t conducive to success at higher levels. Holmes has also plunked 10 batters on the season.
Not a good recipe for the 20 year old.
Photo Credit: Flickr.com/mwlguide
