The Pirates Prospects 2015 Prospect Guide is now on sale. The book features prospect reports on everyone in the system, the 2015 top 50 prospects, and the most comprehensive coverage of the Pirates’ farm system that you can find. While the top 50 prospects are exclusive to the book, we will be releasing the top 20 prospects over the next few weeks. Be sure to purchase your copy of the book on the products page of the site.
To recap the countdown so far:
20. Luis Heredia, RHP
19. JaCoby Jones, SS
18. Willy Garcia, OF
17. Clay Holmes, RHP
16. Gage Hinsz, RHP
15. Trey Supak, RHP
14. Cody Dickson, LHP
13. John Holdzkom, RHP
12. Adrian Sampson, RHP
11. Harold Ramirez, OF
10. Elias Diaz, C
9. Cole Tucker, SS
8. Mitch Keller, RHP
7. Alen Hanson, 2B
6. Nick Kingham, RHP
5. Reese McGuire, C
4. Josh Bell, 1B
We continue the countdown with the number 3 prospect, Austin Meadows.
3. Austin Meadows, OF
There is no urgent need for outfield talent in Pittsburgh, due to the trio of Andrew McCutchen, Starling Marte, and Gregory Polanco under control through at least the 2018 season. Meadows has the upside to one day be a star outfielder, but the Pirates can afford to take their time with him.
The 2014 season was supposed to be a chance for Meadows to break out as one of the top prospects in the game. Instead, he missed over half the minor league season with multiple hamstring injuries. The first came in Spring Training, forcing him to miss almost the entire Spring. He was set to go to West Virginia at the end of April, but injured the hamstring in a different spot during his rehab work. The second injury delayed his return, and he didn’t reach West Virginia until the second week of July.
Once Meadows arrived, he started to show off what makes him a top prospect. He hit for average, got on base, and hit for power. The strikeouts weren’t great, but were better than his debut in the GCL. There is still more power that can come from his game, but he’s off to a good start for a 19- year-old.
Meadows drew comparisons to Jay Bruce on draft day due to his power potential. He has a smooth and easy swing, with the ability to hit for average, along with above average power in the majors. He has the range to play center field, but his lack of arm strength should move him to a corner spot eventually.
The Pirates usually like to send prep players to West Virginia for a full season before promoting them up the ranks. Meadows could return to West Virginia for all of 2015, just to get experience at the level and experience playing all year. The Pirates did the same thing with Josh Bell in 2013, after he missed most of the 2012 season with a knee injury. The difference here is that Meadows had a much better debut than Bell. The Pirates can take their time with Meadows, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see him back at West Virginia for at least the start of the 2015 season. In the long-term, he’s got the upside to eventually successfully replace one of the current outfielders in the majors.
Click Here to Purchase the Pirates Prospects 2015 Prospect Guide
