On Monday, MLB Pipeline posted their list of the top ten second base prospects in baseball and Kevin Kramer was ranked tenth overall. The Pittsburgh Pirates had just one representative on the first four lists, which covered right-handed pitchers, left-handed pitchers, catchers and first basemen. Mitch Keller was named as the sixth best right-handed pitcher on a very top heavy list.
Kramer was headed for a higher spot on this list until he had his hand broken by a pitch on June 10th. At the time, he had a .297/.380/.500 slash line for Altoona. He returned on rehab briefly with the GCL Pirates at the end of the season, then went to Morgantown before getting into the playoffs with Altoona when Cole Tucker was injured.
After the season, Kramer went to the Fall Instructional League first, where he started to play shortstop. After two weeks there, he went to the Arizona Fall League and hit .200/.296/.317 in 16 games, while getting more experience at shortstop. He should play for Indianapolis this upcoming season and if he can pick up where he left off last year before the injury, we could see him in Pittsburgh this season.
With Kevin Newman at Indianapolis and Cole Tucker one level behind him, Kramer will likely see most of his time at second base, though occasional games at shortstop could help add versatility. While covering the AFL in November, Tim Williams talked to Pirates Director of Minor League Operations Larry Broadway and AFL/Bradenton hitting coach Keoni De Renne about Kramer’s ability at shortstop.
Pipeline will cover third base, shortstop and outfield over the next three days. Then on Saturday night they will release their top 100 list on MLB Network.