Three Pirates prospects will be playing for the Adelaide Bite in the Australian Baseball League, which begins on November 3rd. The three prospects are right handed pitcher Ryan Beckman, left handed pitcher Rinku Singh, and first baseman Calvin Anderson.
Beckman spent most of the 2011 season as the closer for the Bradenton Marauders, posting a 3.12 ERA in 52 innings, along with a 46:18 K/BB ratio and 11 saves. The 21 year old had a few appearances in the major league camp during Spring Training, and followed that up by advancing from State College in 2010 to West Virginia then Bradenton in 2011. Beckman was originally drafted in the 18th round of the 2009 draft.
Singh pitched for four different teams in 2011, but spent the most time with the West Virginia Power. There, Singh put up a 3.18 ERA i 17 innings, with a 13:7 K/BB ratio. He started off in extended Spring Training, then made three appearances in the Dominican Summer League, before moving up to the GCL, and then making a few appearances with State College.
Anderson spent the entire 2011 season in high-A Bradenton, although he missed the second half of the season with a knee injury. While healthy, Anderson hit for a .271/.335/.507 line, with 13 home runs in 225 at-bats. The power was a nice sign, as Anderson hit 11 homers in 464 at-bats in 2010 at the same level. The 2008 12th rounder should move up to AA in 2012.
Last year the Adelaide roster included Quincy Latimore and Jackson Lodge. The team was managed last year by Tony Harris, who is the Pirates’ scout in Australia.
