Organization Ranking: 7
I've ranked every farm system, as well as the top 100 MLB prospects for 2015. Below, I've ranked at least the top 10 Pirates prospects, plus an overview of the system and any other names of note beyond the top 10. I also discuss any prospects who might help the big league club in 2015, one or two prospects whose stock has taken a big hit in the past year, and a sleeper prospect who I think can jump into the main top-100 list for 2016.
Non-Insider subscribers: Check out the free Tampa Bay Rays top-10 prospects report to see what these entail.
Top 10 prospects
1. Tyler Glasnow, RHP
2. Austin Meadows, OF
3. Jameson Taillon, RHP
4. Josh Bell, OF/1B
5. Alen Hanson, 2B/SS
6. Nick Kingham, RHP
7. Reese McGuire, C
8. Harold Ramirez, LF
9. Trey Supak, RHP
10. Cole Tucker, SS
Overview
The Pirates' system remains very strong even though the big club has made the playoffs two straight years; they've dealt very little of their prospect depth for in-season help (Dilson Herrera is the only one of note) and continued to draft well even as their picks became later and later in the first round. The farm has a good balance of hitters and pitchers; their arms plenty of potential starters, some near-in and some more upside plays, and most of their bats at least could play in the middle of the field even though they won't all remain there. McGuire remains a potentially elite defensive catcher -- he can already throw with the best, and his receiving has gotten better. He had the best strikeout rate of any player under 20 in full-season ball last year, but needs to get much stronger so he can convert all that contact into more singles and doubles. Ramirez can really hit but he's not a runner and it's a left fielder's body, so there has to be some power there soon.
I loved most of their draft from 2014; Supak, Mitch Keller (11), and Gage Hinsz (17) all look like they'll become strong, durable starters, with all three boasting solid deliveries but Supak's my favorite, even though he ended the summer with a brief elbow scare. I was light on first-rounder Tucker, seeing him as more of a good second-round talent, but discovered after the draft that a number of teams drafting in the 30s and early 40s were hoping to nab him -- he was just 17 on draft day, gets raves from everyone for his work ethic, and is a very good athlete who should stay at short and hit for average with some steals.
Right-hander Clayton Holmes (12) should be back from Tommy John around midyear, like Taillon; he's a potential No. 4 starter due to his size and durability, without premium stuff. Shortstop JaCoby Jones (13) played better defense at short than expected, but his contact rate was too low for a college product in low-A. He's such a good athlete, though, that I find it hard to give up on him entirely. Elias Diaz (14) has a 70 arm and could catch every day from a defensive standpoint, assuming he can develop enough of a hit tool. Willy Garcia (15) has the power and the arm to play every day in the majors and the plate discipline to play every Saturday in your weekend beer league. I liked Taylor Gushue (16) when I saw him as a freshman at the University of Florida, but when he moved back behind the plate after Mike Zunino left his offense tailed off. He's a hitter first, a legit switch-hitter with some feel for the zone and power on both sides, probably a quality backup in the majors but a tiny chance he could be more. And as crazy as it seems, don't be shocked if Dyovdas Neverauskas becomes the first Lithuanian in the majors at some point -- he can hit 95 mph as a starter with a 45 curveball, but I think in the pen he'd sit 94-96 with good downhill plane, and the lack of command wouldn't be an issue. Someone has to try it, just to sell a few extra MLB.tv subscriptions in Vilnius.
2015 impact
Kingham is first on the plane if the phone rings for a starter, and he's ready, while Taillon's schedule probably means we won't see him until September, assuming he has no setbacks. Glasnow's command isn't ready for that jump yet, but he might be a weapon for the Pirates out of the pen if they get to the postseason.
The fallen
Luis Heredia (17) had his second straight disappointing year in low-A, turning 20 in August, so age is no longer a justification for the poor performance. His stuff hasn't advanced, his body isn't good, and he can't repeat the arm stroke enough to be a starter.
Sleeper
I could pick any of the prep kids they took in the 2014 draft class, but that would be cheating, so I'll take Supak, who I think offers the best combination of present ability, physical projection, and sustainable mechanics.