The Pirates Prospects 2011 Prospect Guide was released last week, featuring 237 prospect reports, interviews with Jameson Taillon, Stetson Allie, Zack Von Rosenberg, and Zack Dodson, the 2011 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, the top ten prospects will be released on the site.
Be sure to purchase your copy of the book by clicking “Buy Now” at the bottom of this page (or to the right).
To recap the countdown so far:
10. Colton Cain
9. Zack Von Rosenberg
8. Jeff Locke
7. Rudy Owens
6. Bryan Morris
5. Luis Heredia
We continue the countdown with the number four prospect, Stetson Allie.
4. Stetson Allie, RHP
Allie entered the 2010 draft as one of the highest rated prep pitchers on the board, but fell to the Pirates in the second round after reportedly asking for $3 M from teams inquiring in the first round. The Pirates took him, and ended up giving him $2.25 M to sign, which is the biggest bonus the Pirates have ever given out after the first round.
Allie possibly has one of the best arms in the 2010 draft, even better than Jameson Taillon. He tops out at 98-99 MPH with his fastball, and hit triple digits before the draft. He also has a hard slider that tops out at 88-89 MPH. The problem with Stetson is that he doesn’t have the best control of his fastball when it’s in the upper 90s, as he works best in the 94-96 MPH range.
Allie isn’t as polished as Taillon, and for that reason, isn’t as likely as Taillon to become a future ace in the majors. He definitely has top of the rotation upside, but needs to improve his control, and also needs to work on his secondary pitches. He started working on a changeup after the Pirates drafted him, which will be essential to his future as a starting pitching prospect.
Allie might not be on the same fast track that Taillon could be on. He will likely start off in extended Spring Training, and could make it to West Virginia in 2011, although he will probably make a stop in State College first. While Taillon could be in the majors during the 2013 season, Allie probably won’t arrive until 2014 or 2015. Some project that his fastball/slider combo could make him a star closer in the future if he fails to develop his secondary pitches and make it as a starter. The Pirates will definitely use him as a starting option as long as possible, and if he develops a changeup and improves his fastball control in the upper 90s, it would be easy to see him realizing his potential as a top of the rotation starter.
Tim started Pirates Prospects in 2009 from his home in Virginia, which was 40 minutes from where Pedro Alvarez made his pro debut in Lynchburg. That year, the Lynchburg Hillcats won the Carolina League championship, and Pirates Prospects was born from Tim's reporting along the way. The site has grown over the years to include many more writers, and Tim has gone on to become a credentialed MLB reporter, producing Pirates Prospects each year, and will publish his 11th Prospect Guide this offseason. He has also served as the Pittsburgh Pirates correspondent for Baseball America since 2019. Behind the scenes, Tim is an avid music lover, and most of the money he gets paid to run this site goes to vinyl records.
Where do you think Colton Cain and Zach Von Rosenberg will start this year and where do you think they could be at the end of the year if they both have breakout seasons?
I think they both start in West Virginia. They will probably each finish the year in Bradenton. I don’t see them going to Altoona, unless they get off to a great start in WV and have nothing to work on as far as fastball command, which would be the only way I see them making a quick jump to Bradenton.