The Pirates Prospects 2015 Prospect Guide is now on sale. The book features prospect reports on everyone in the system, the 2015 top 50 prospects, and the most comprehensive coverage of the Pirates’ farm system that you can find. While the top 50 prospects are exclusive to the book, we will be releasing the top 20 prospects over the next few weeks. Be sure to purchase your copy of the book on the products page of the site.
To recap the countdown so far:
20. Luis Heredia, RHP
19. JaCoby Jones, SS
18. Willy Garcia, OF
17. Clay Holmes, RHP
16. Gage Hinsz, RHP
15. Trey Supak, RHP
14. Cody Dickson, LHP
13. John Holdzkom, RHP
12. Adrian Sampson, RHP
11. Harold Ramirez, OF
10. Elias Diaz, C
9. Cole Tucker, SS
8. Mitch Keller, RHP
7. Alen Hanson, 2B
We continue the countdown with the number 6 prospect, Nick Kingham.
6. Nick Kingham, RHP
Nick Kingham had strong results in Altoona during the second half of the 2013 season. Because of those results, it was a surprise to see him return to the level at the start of the 2014 season. It was even more surprising to see him struggle with his control early in the season, since his control was one of his biggest strengths up to that point. Kingham was a bit too hittable in both stops in Altoona, but settled down by mid- season in 2014, and also saw the control issues disappear, earning him a promotion to Indianapolis.
While he was with Indianapolis, Kingham put up much better numbers. However, this was an inverse of his time in Altoona. He started off strong, with a 1.62 ERA over his first 39 innings, then struggled during the final two months of the season, posting a 5.14 ERA in his final 49 innings, while seeing the control problems creep up again. He was slated to go to the Arizona Fall League, but was held back due to innings.
Kingham throws a fastball that sits 92-95 MPH, touching 97-98. The fastball is normally thrown with good command and good movement, thrown on a downward plane with pinpoint command. He throws a curveball and a changeup, and scouts are mixed on which is the better off-speed pitch, but both can grade as above-average. The curve looks like a fastball out of the hand, then features a late drop, leading to swings and misses or ground balls.
The stuff is good enough to get Kingham to the majors, and eventually lead to him becoming a strong middle of the rotation starter who can throw 200 innings per year. Before that can happen, he will need to iron out his command issues in the upper levels. He should return to Indianapolis for the start of the 2015 season, and could make the majors by mid-season. If he makes the successful jump to the majors, he has the ability to be a fixture in the Pirates rotation for years, even if everyone from the Cole/Glasnow/Taillon group also works out.
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