MLB.com has updated their top 100 prospects list, and the Pittsburgh Pirates have six players making the rankings.
Gerrit Cole leads the group, coming in at number eight. That’s a three spot improvement for Cole, who was ranked 11th coming in to the year. Jameson Taillon was next on the list, coming in at number 16. Taillon was ranked eighth coming in to the year. Both players have been passed this year by guys ranked lower in the pre-season rankings, although I wouldn’t say there’s a huge difference between any of the top pitchers in the #2 (Dylan Bundy) through #20 (Shelby Miller) range.
Next on the list was Starling Marte, who ranked 34th. Marte was ranked 40th during the pre-season, which was one of his highest pre-season rankings. The move for the outfielder seems like a natural shift as a result of players graduating from the top of the list.
Alen Hanson made the biggest leap for the Pirates, going from unranked on the pre-season charts, to coming in at number 54. Luis Heredia also went from unranked on the pre-season list to coming in at number 73. And finally, Gregory Polanco jumped on to the list at number 95.
Josh Bell was ranked 60th on the pre-season list, but fell off the list after missing most of the 2012 season with a knee injury.
