We have given updates over the last few days on the recent drafts and how the players are doing. Our 2016 draft coverage continued yesterday with updates on some players we have followed, as well as some additional players of note. As for the recent draft recaps, we started with the most recent draft on Friday, then moved on to the 2014 draft. That was followed by the 2013 draft Sunday and yesterday was the disappointing 2012 draft. Today is the last part in this series, the 2011 draft. The Pirates signed 24 players during the 2011 draft and spent close to $17,000,000 in bonuses on those players. Here is a brief update on all of those player listed in the order in which they were drafted.
Gerrit Cole – I’m sure you know who he is
Josh Bell – One of the top hitting prospects in baseball. Will see Pittsburgh sometime after early June
Alex Dickerson – Traded away. Currently in AAA for Padres. Saw a little MLB time in 2015
Colten Brewer – Starter for Bradenton. Has a power arm, potential future reliever if he can show more consistency. Has missed time due to injuries and leaving baseball for a short time
Tyler Glasnow – Top prospect in the system. Will make his MLB debut sometime after early June. Still has work to do
Dan Gamache – Could make the majors as a bench player. Not receiving a lot of playing time in crowded Indianapolis infield
Jake Burnette – Has played four seasons for West Virginia. Missed a lot of time with injuries, hasn’t shown potential recently
Jason Creasy – Starter for Altoona, has command issues. Might have an outside chance to make majors as a reliever, as fastball plays up in shorter roles
Clay Holmes – Has the potential of a mid-rotation workhorse. Still raw due to missed time from Tommy John surgery. Starter for Altoona
Taylor Lewis – Released last year
Candon Myles – Released awhile ago
Josh Poytress – Released awhile ago
Alex Fuselier – Released awhile ago
Michael Jefferson – Released awhile ago
Jordan Cooper – Drafted twice by Pirates, released in 2012
Brian Sharp – Retired a month into his career
Ryan Hornback – Released awhile ago
Kirk Singer – Switched from infield to pitcher, released, then pitched two years in Giants’ system
Matt Benedict – Released this spring
Derek Trent – Released awhile ago
David Jagoditsh – Released awhile ago
Chris Lashmet – Released awhile ago
Rodarrick Jones – Released awhile ago
Jonathan Schwind – Utility player for Altoona
This draft was the last before the new draft rules with slot values and the bonus pool. Before 2012, they had slot recommendations and if you tried to go over them, MLB would intentionally delay signings to try to keep the prices down. Knowing that a change was coming up, the Pirates went all out in this draft and there is potential for three above average Major League players, and possibly another solid MLB player in Clay Holmes if he continues to develop.
PIRATES GAME GRAPH
Source: FanGraphs
TODAY’S SCHEDULE
Today’s Starter and Notes: The Pirates won 6-1 over the Rockies on Monday night. Gerrit Cole gets his fourth start tonight. He has looked better each time out, improving to six shutout innings in his last start. The Rockies will counter with Jorge De La Rosa, who will make his fifth start. He has a 9.87 ERA and a 1.96 WHIP in 17.1 innings this season.
In the minors, Tyler Glasnow makes his fourth start for Indianapolis this afternoon. In his last game, he had to rely mainly on his fastball because the curve wasn’t working. That led to a lot of damage from hitters who were sitting fastball and letting everything else go. Glasnow will need the curve to work this afternoon for him to be successful, and he needs to start mixing in his change-up so he can advance to the next level.
Yeudy Garcia goes for Bradenton tonight. He has started off slow after having a breakout season in West Virginia last year. The strikeout total is strong, with 16 in 13 innings, but his command hasn’t been good, and the velocity is down from 93-95, to 91-94 MPH. Dario Agrazal goes for West Virginia. He has thrown shutout ball in two of his outings, while giving up five runs in his other game.
MLB: Pittsburgh (11-9) @ Rockies (9-10) 8:40 PM
Probable starter: Gerrit Cole (2.70 ERA, 6:16 BB/SO, 16.2 IP)
AAA: Indianapolis (9-7) @ Durham (10-9) 1:05 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Tyler Glasnow (3.60 ERA, 6:19 BB/SO, 15.0 IP)
AA: Altoona (8-10) vs Erie (9-9) 6:00 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Cody Dickson (4.73 ERA, 12:9 BB/SO, 13.1 IP)
High-A: Bradenton (8-10) vs Palm Beach (10-8) 6:30 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Yeudy Garcia (4.85 ERA, 9:16 BB/SO, 13.0 IP)
Low-A: West Virginia (14-4) vs Rome (5-13) 7:05 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Dario Agrazal (2.81 ERA, 2:8 BB/SO, 16.0 IP)
HIGHLIGHTS
Here is a fine defensive play from Altoona second baseman Erich Weiss, who is having a solid season at the plate.
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
4/25: Pedro Florimon added to Indianapolis roster. Antoan Richardson released.
4/25: Austin Meadows added to Altoona roster. Justin Maffei assigned to Morgantown.
4/25: Jake Burnette placed on disabled list. Logan Ratledge assigned to West Virginia.
4/22: Pirates recall Jason Rogers. Cole Figueroa optioned to Indianapolis.
4/21: Pirates release Michael Morse.
4/21: Jhondaniel Medina assigned to Altoona.
4/21: Cory Luebke assigned to Indianapolis on rehab.
4/20: Jared Hughes assigned to Indianapolis on rehab.
4/19: Julio Vivas added to West Virginia roster. Logan Ratledge assigned to Morgantown.
4/18: Jung-ho Kang assigned to Indianapolis on rehab.
4/16: Trevor Williams placed on disabled list. Jhondaniel Medina promoted to Indianapolis.
4/15: John Kuchno promoted to Indianapolis. Frank Duncan added to Altoona roster.
4/14: Cory Luebke placed on disabled list. Pirates recall Rob Scahill.
4/14: Pirates sign Justin Masterson.
4/14: Chad Kuhl assigned to Indianapolis.
4/13: Michael Morse designated for assignment. Pirates select contract of A.J. Schugel.
4/13: West Virginia places Cesilio Pimentel on disabled list. Eric Karch added to roster.
THIS DATE IN PIRATES HISTORY
Three former Pittsburgh Pirates players born on this date, including pitcher Francisco Cordova, who pitched five seasons for the team from 1996 until 2000. He took part in the team’s last no-hitter back in 1997, throwing the first nine innings of the ten inning game. That boxscore can be found here. Cordova went 42-47, 3.96 in 166 games, 112 as a starter with the Pirates.
Also born on this date: Infielder Curt Wilkerson, who played with the 1991 club that made the playoffs. Outfielder Amos Otis, who played for the 1984 Pirates, the last team during his 17-year career. He was a five-time All-Star and won three Gold Glove awards.
On this date in 1995, baseball returned from their last strike and the Pirates opened their season against the Expos with a 6-2 loss. Here is the Pirates lineup from that day:
