Pittsburgh Pirates Top 10 Prospects
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TOP TEN PROSPECTS
1. Pedro Alvarez, 3b
2. Andrew McCutchen, of
3. Jose Tabata, of
4. Brad Lincoln, rhp
5. Bryan Morris, rhp
6. Neil Walker, 3b
7. Jeff Sues, rhp
8. Shelby Ford, 2b
9. Daniel McCutchen, rhp
10. Robbie Grossman, of
BEST TOOLS
Best Hitter for Average Pedro Alvarez
Best Power Hitter Pedro Alvarez
Best Strike-Zone Discipline Jim Negrych
Fastest Baserunner Jose de los Santos
Best Athlete Andrew McCutchen
Best Fastball Jeff Sues
Best Curveball Brad Lincoln
Best Slider Daniel Moskos
Best Changeup Ronald Uviedo
Best Control Daniel McCutchen
Best Defensive Catcher Steve Lerud
Best Defensive Infielder Luis Cruz
Best Infield Arm Jordy Mercer
Best Defensive Outfielder Andrew McCutchen
Best Outfield Arm Austin McClune
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The Pirates are likely to set a record for infamy in 2009 as their never-ending
rebuilding process continues. Unless they manage to surpass expectations and
win 81 games, they'll endure their 17th straight losing season, giving them
sole possession of the U.S. major professional sports mark that they
currently share with the 1933-48 Phillies.
Pittsburgh went 67-95 last year, its first under a new regime. Frank Coonelly
was hired away from his role as Major League Baseball's chief labor lawyer to
oversee the franchise as club president. Coonelly installed Indians assistant
general manager Neal Huntington as GM. Huntington gave John Russell, manager
of the Phillies' Triple-A Ottawa farm club, his first crack as a major league
skipper.
The Pirates began another reconstruction under their new administration.
Their most visible moves came in late July, when they sent Jason Bay to the
Red Sox and Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte to the Yankees in trades that netted
eight young players. Craig Hansen, Jeff Karstens, Andy LaRoche, Brandon Moss
and Ross Ohlendorf all saw action with the major league club—and no longer
qualify for this list—while outfielder Jose Tabata and righthanders Bryan
Morris and Daniel McCutchen all rank among the system's top 10 prospects.
Pittsburgh went 17-37 over the final two months while fielding a young lineup.
The Pirates showed a new commitment to strengthening their player-development
and scouting departments under new leadership. Huntington named Indians
assistant farm director Kyle Stark as farm director and former Tigers
scouting director Greg Smith as scouting director.
Pittsburgh began building a new academy in the Dominican Republic that Latin
America scouting director Rene Gayo said would be among the top two
facilities in the island nation. The Pirates also spent $9.8 million on draft
bonuses, more than any club had ever spent before last summer (albeit the
fourth-highest total in 2008). That total included a $6 million bonus as part
of a $6.355 million major league contract for No. 2 overall pick Pedro Alvarez
—which included as much drama as it did cash.
The Pirates originally announced that Alvarez had agreed to a straight $6
million bonus minutes before the signing deadline on Aug. 15. Twelve days
later, agent Scott Boras claimed Alvarez reached his deal two minutes after
the midnight deadline, prompting the MLB Players Association to file a
grievance.
The two sides settled on Sept. 24 after plenty of rancor between Boras and
Coonelly, who conceded afterward that the deal was consummated at 12:02 a.m.
on Aug. 16. There were enough ill feelings that Pittsburgh didn't hold a
press conference to introduce Alvarez, and neither Coonelly nor Huntington
were present when Alvarez signed his contact at PNC Park.
In an effort to pump up a thin farm system, the Pirates exceeded MLB's bonus
recommendations to sign a pair of high school seniors: outfielder Robbie
Grossman ($1 million in the sixth round) and righthander Quinton Miller
($900,000 in the 20th). Their search for talent extended to a nation that has
yet to produce a big leaguer, as they signed switch-hitting South African
shortstop Mpho Ngoepe after scouting him at MLB's European Baseball Academy
in Italy.
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