11.) Jeff Locke (9)--LHP--24
Locke is another member of a good AAA rotation in Indianapolis, and has so far posted a 3.27 ERA in 66.0 IP. A lot of his success this year can be attributed to his much improved control, with a 1.9 BB/9, down from 3.2 from last year. His K/9 rate is at 8.2, which is above average and also at his career rate in the minors. He debuted in Pittsburgh last year with a 6.48 ERA in four starts, and had a brief stint with the team this year, but he didn’t make an appearance. With good control and good strikeout numbers, Locke could be a good major league starter, possibly even a #3 starter.
12.) Robbie Grossman (15)--OF--22
Grossman had a breakout year in 2011 in his second year in high-A, but has really struggled in the difficult jump to AA. In 203 at bats, he has a .217/.315/.345 line, with a .659 OPS. His power is down a little as well, with a HR every 67.7 at bats this year, opposed to a HR every 37.7 last year. The speedy outfielder still has time to turn things around this year, but he was recently benched for “in house reasons”, which isn’t really a good sign. Grossman has great plate patience, and is still drawing walks at a very good rate.
13.) Nick Kingham (11)--RHP--20
After a great year in State College in 2011 where he posted a 2.15 ERA, Kingham has struggled a little in low-A this year. Through 12 starts and 49.0 IP, Kingham has a 5.51 average and 1.43 WHIP. He has been very hittable this year, with a 10.1 H/9. He’s also walking more batters this year than in the past, with a 2.8 BB/9 this year compared to a 1.9 BB/9 last year. He is striking a lot more batters out though, with a 8.6 K/9 this year after having a career rate of 6.0 coming into the season. With a chance to have three above average pitches in the future, Kingham could be a very good starter in the majors one day.
14.) Alex Dickerson (NA)--1B--22
Dickerson is the best first base prospect the Pirates have in their system, and could be an offensive threat down the road. After years of not having a long term first baseman in the organization, this is a welcoming sight. Dickerson was drafted in the third round of the 2011 draft, and after doing a great job in short season State College last year, was promoted to high-A to begin 2012. He got off to a slow start, but currently sits at a .288/.355/.414 line, with four homeruns and a .769 OPS. You would like to see more home runs and a better slugging percentage from a power hitter, but he has displayed his ability to hit the long ball, and should be able to hit for more power in the future.
15.) Gregory Polanco (NA)--OF--20
Polanco is having a breakout year in low-A West Virginia after struggling in his first few years in the organization. It was a bit of a surprise to see him start the year in low-A after a bad year in the rookie level Gulf Coast League, but he has surpassed expectations with a .302/.360/.482 line, with nine homers and a .841 OPS in 222 at bats. Coming into the year he was seen as a “potential five-tool talent”, and has lived up to that with his average and power, along with 16 SB’s in 20 attempts, while serving as the primary center fielder for the West Virginia Power. Starling Marte (#4 on this list) had his breakout year for West Virginia as a 20 year old as well, and so far Gregory Polanco is putting up better offensive numbers than Marte did that year. He doesn’t have the arm or fielding ability of Marte and isn’t quite as fast, but is a very efficient base runner who can hit for average and power.
16.) Justin Wilson (NA)--LHP--24
Wilson may have as good of stuff as any pitcher in the system, but his lack of control over those pitches can get him into trouble. Over his career in the minors, Wilson has a 4.6 BB/9, including a 4.8 rate this year. His control problems led to him being put into the bullpen near the end of 2011, where he displayed an upper 90’s fastball (he was working between 88-94 MHP as a starter). With the control problems he has shown in the rotation, it would make sense for him to move to the bullpen if and when he moves up to Pittsburgh. A lefty reliever with an upper 90’s fastball and great movement on his pitches is very hard to find, and very valuable.
17.) Colton Cain (12)--LHP--21
Cain has spent a lot of this season on the DL, and has only thrown 34.2 innings so far. In those innings, he has struggled a bit, with a 5.45 ERA. A big reason for his struggles is that he has given up six home runs to this point, leading to a 1.6 HR/9 rate. As soon as that number goes down, which it should, his ERA will go down as well. Cain dropped five spots in my rankings since the last list in May, but that’s mainly due to him being injured. He had a 3.13 ERA in 19 starts last year, and has the potential to be a good #3 starter in the majors.
18.) Matt Curry (13)--1B--23
Curry spent most of 2011 in AA, so he is repeating the level this year. In his second time around, he has a .284/.342/.438 line, with only two homers and a .779 OPS. The Pirates do not have a proven first base prospect in their system, so Curry is as close as it gets. If he reaches his potential, Curry could be an average to above average big league first baseman who could hit around .280 and somewhere between 15-25 home runs. His defense isn’t great at first, but shouldn’t be a problem down the road.
19.) Mel Rojas Jr. (NA)--OF--22
Rojas was drafted as a potential five tool player in the third round of the 2010 draft, but was said to be very raw. He’s been a little inconsistent this year, but has an OPS of .702, which is up from his .646 number from last year at a lower level. He has displayed his speed and fielding ability in the lower levels, and his bat seems to be picking up this year. He has the potential to hit for power, but has only seven home runs in 907 career at bats in the minors. If his bat can improve, he could be a very intriguing prospect.
20.) Bryan Morris (NA)--RHP--25
Morris is now a full time reliever, coming out of the bullpen for the AAA Indianapolis Indians. He has been a great reliever in the upper levels of the minors, with a 2.05 ERA out of the bullpen in 2011 at AA Altoona, and a 2.65 ERA this year. He has great secondary numbers this year to go along with that, including a 8.9 K/9, 1.9 BB/9, and 1.02 WHIP. With a mid 90’s fastball, great curveball, and a new cutter that he uses as a strikeout pitch, Morris looks like a guy that could be a future closer in the majors.
Any questions or comments can be sent to me on twitter @mikemaw45, or in the comment button below.
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