Top 10 Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects-Part 1

Since I have some extra time,here is my version of the top 10 prospects in the Pirate system
1:Andrew McCutchen-of.
McCutchen is clearly the jewel of the farm system,having a great spring training and rocketing to AA Altoona as he enters just his 2nd full season of Professional Baseball.
A five tool player that has surprised me with his power.
Andrew should make his debut in late 2007,unless the Pirates prefer to wait until next year.
Such a decision would only be to keep his arbitration clock from starting.
Saw Andrew at Hickory last year,got a few cards,a picture and a SAL ball signed.
A bit quiet,but not unfriendly.

2)Neil Walker-3b
Neil was the Pirates top rounder in 2004 and was moved from catcher to 3rd base in spring training this year.

I saw Neil catch for Hickory in 2005 and honestly I didnt think that he was the butcher behind the plate that he had the reputation for being.
Neil switch-hits and had excellent athletic ability for a catcher.
He struggled a bit last year at High A Lynchburg,but IMO ,that was due to a wrist injury in camp.
Neil seems to have a tremendous amount of charisma,when I met him,he chatted for a bit and seems completely at ease with the attention given to the Bucs top prospect (Pre-McCutchen)
Walker made a cameo at AA Altoona last year with McCutcheon and both will start there this year,in an attempt to give Altoona some real prospects instead of the Simon Ponds of the world.
Walker could follow the same 07 or 08 path as McCutchen.
Neil signed some cards for me on that night at Hickory and signed his Lynchburg card through the mail last season.

3:Brad Lincoln-SP
Now the quality drops.Lincoln was the top pick of the Buccos last year and the 4th player overall.Lincoln pitched very little for Hickory last year before being sidelined for the season with a oblique problem.
Now he has elbow problems and will not start the season with Hickory or Lynchburg as expected.
I'll go out on a limb and go with Lincoln at this spot,on projectability,but not looking good thus far.
Havent seen Lincoln,although I hope to sometime during the 07 season.

4:Brian Bixler-SS
Bixler was a 2nd round pick in the same draft that netted Neil Walker.
Bixler played very well last year as he split the year with Lynchburg and Altoona,I have seen Brian play for Hickory and Altoona.I am not sure about his power numbers,but should at least be a servicable utility type.
Bixler seems to have impressed Littlefield's gang somewhat,as he moved Brent Lillibridge to Atlanta in the Adam LaRoche trade..
I liked Lillibridge a little better,but IMO not by much.
Bixler will start the season at AAA Indianapolis and should make his Pittsburgh debut sometime this season.
Brian signed a few cards for me at Hickory.Nice signatures as well.
The more I do this,the more I think I need a scanner.

5;Yoslan Herrera-SP
The mystery man from Cuba.Who really knows what we have here until the season starts,but in this system,he ranks high by default.
The Pirates tossed him a big contract (by their paltry standards anyway).
He claims to be 25,but when it comes to the Cubans,ages are never reliable.
We will know a lot more on Herrera this year as he should be at AA Altoona.

Players 6-10 coming soon