Yesterday we completed the 2014 Pittsburgh Pirates minor league recaps, finishing with the GCL Pirates. Each recap featured notes on all of the best prospects at each level, along with a season-ending top 10 list. The lists are basically rough draft versions, which will be finalized in the 2015 Prospect Guide. Our top 50 prospects for the 2015 season will also be included in the upcoming Prospect Guide. That will go on pre-sale at some point in October, and will be released in mid-December. For now, you can buy the discounted versions of the 2014 and 2013 Prospect Guides on the products page, and you can view the 2014 season recaps and top 10s below.
1. Gregory Polanco
2. Nick Kingham
3. Andrew Lambo
4. Tony Sanchez
5. Brandon Cumpton
6. Casey Sadler
7. Mel Rojas
8. Jaff Decker
9. Andy Oliver
10. Chris McGuiness
1. Nick Kingham
2. Alen Hanson
3. Adrian Sampson
4. Elias Diaz
5. Stetson Allie
6. Willy Garcia
7. Mel Rojas
8. Joely Rodriguez
9. Keon Broxton
10. Gift Ngoepe
1. Tyler Glasnow
2. Josh Bell
3. Jose Osuna
4. Jason Creasy
5. Chad Kuhl
6. Jin-De Jhang
7. Adam Frazier
8. John Kuchno
9. Shane Carle
10. Eric Wood
1. Austin Meadows
2. Reese McGuire
3. Harold Ramirez
4. Buddy Borden
5. JaCoby Jones
6. Cody Dickson
7. Luis Heredia
8. Wyatt Mathisen
9. Edwin Espinal
10. Shane Carle
1. Jordan Luplow
2. Taylor Gushue
3. Tyler Eppler
4. Kevin Krause
5. Elvis Escobar
6. Michael Suchy
7. Alex McRae
8. Austin Coley
9. Frank Duncan
10. Chase Simpson
1. Billy Roth
2. Jon Sandfort
3. Hector Garcia
4. Nick Buckner
5. Pablo Reyes
6. John Sever
7. Trae Arbet
8. Luis Paula
9. Danny Arribas
10. Jerrick Suiter
1. Cole Tucker
2. Mitch Keller
3. Trey Supak
4. Michael De La Cruz
5. Tito Polo
6. Carlos Munoz
7. Yoel Gonzalez
8. Dario Agrazal
9. Alexis Bastardo
10. Neil Kozikowski
1. Edison Lantigua, LF
2. Adrian Valerio, SS
3. Raul Siri, 2B
4. Jeremias Portorreal, RF
5. Luis Escobar, RHP
6. Richard Mitchell, RHP
7. Yeudy Garcia, RHP
8. Mikell Granberry, C
9. Jhoan Herrera, 3B
10. Victor Fernandez, CF
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.
Hypothetical – if the Bucs’ affiliates go through several years of not making playoffs, are any at risk of changing affiliations similar to what State College did a couple years ago?
The Pirates own four of their affiliates and three of the others are local, so they draw Pirates fans. There is always a chance an affiliate could leave, but the two in WV work well with the Pirates, while Altoona(signed through 2018) has been with the Pirates from the start. Indianapolis is signed for two more years, but they made the playoffs last year, so that shouldn’t be a problem. Bradenton, Bristol, GCL and DSL are owned by the Pirates, so they aren’t going anywhere.
Thanks! Exactly what I wanted to know.
Excluding Bristol you can see an average of five or six players on each team who might see time in Pittsburgh. Amazing! Since the Pirates need only four or five new players to make the team each year (for replacement ahead of free agency) they are about at the point of total internal replacement if need be. They’ll lose players in the minor league system as they will trade quantity for quality, but the future really looks bright.
I tend to agree with you.
However, I think there are several pitchers from Bristol who have a chance in the majors. My top 6 prospects would be …
LHP
Garcia
Sever – fits the profile of a late-bloomer. Just two years ago he was one of the worst pitchers on his D2 team. Averaged 9 bb / 9 ip. Then to a JC in 2013 and a swingman in D1 this year. Tall + young + good arm = very favorable trajectory.
Basulto
RHP
Vivas – too few innings to qualify. Why is he a reliever? Good arm and deceptive.
Paula – great arm but couldn’t crack the UNC rotation / regular relievers
Grullon – great arm but very few innings (<60 innings in 4 seasons). IMO he has a better arm than Luis Heredia. Again too few innings to qualify.