I may do a post of players to keep an eye on from outside the top 15 on a future slow day.
1:Andrew McCutchen OF
McCutchen struggled a bit last season at AA Altoona after skipping over Lynchburg,but was promoted this season to Indianapolis anyway.
Andrew projects to be a four tool player for sure and if his power develops as he fills out could be a five tool player.
He had real problems in handling breaking pitches at Altoona and I would like to see him spend most of the season in Indy learning to hit the off-speed stuff better.
Defensively,he will be more than capable and should steal quite a few bases in giving the Pirates a hitter that can steal sacks,unlike their recent centerfielders that never realized that you cannot steal second without making it to first.
The Pirates should not be in a rush to have their one blue chip prospect on the roster now,although I would not argue against a September appearance in the Steel City.
2:Neil Walker 3b
Walker is starting at Indianapolis as well and could use a full season there as well.
Walker's offense would have been more valuable as a catcher than his projected value at third,but what is done is done.
Of course a possible draft of Vanderbilt third baseman Pedro Alvarez may make the Bucco front office reconsider after the season ends.
Walker needs defensive work,but that is to be expected from a player learning third base at higher minor league levels and does not seem to be hopeless there.
Walker switch hits and seems to be a better hitter from the left side,but I am not sure that he will be a huge power hitter from either side.
I like Walker,but something is missing right now from his game.
Neil should be a September call up.
3:Steven Pearce OF
The former first baseman now patrols right field for the Indianapolis Indians and will need time to feel comfortable in the green grass of right.
Pearce was sent down to AAA despite killing the ball in Florida,but the Bucs likely did this for two reasons.One is to showcase Xavier Nady for mid season trades and the other is to keep Pearce's arbitration clock on the same year as McCutchen and Walker.
All the guy does is hit and I suspect nothing in Indianapolis will change that.
Look for Pearce to tear up the International League and become the new right fielder in Pittsburgh after the trade deadline.
4:Daniel Moskos LHP
I think that Brad Lincoln has a little more upside than Moskos,but considering he is coming off Tommy John surgery-Moskos is the less risky choice.
The lefty gunner was drafted by Captain Dave as a future closer,but Neil Huntington moved him to the starting rotation for High A Lynchburg in the spring.
Moskos throws hard (mid 90's) and has a strong slider,but has never put up huge numbers in college (Clemson) and struggled during much of his time at State College.
A fast start in the Carolina League could earn him a mid season promotion to Altoona.
5:Brad Lincoln RHP
Lincoln is expected to start at Low A Hickory soon in his mound return after TJ surgery.
Lincoln throws in the low to mid 90's and uses a strong curve as his breaking ball of choice,but he is slight of build and usually the shelf life of smaller fastball pitchers is not quite as long as others.
I cannot hold any struggles in 2008 against Lincoln as usually the arm takes until the second year following surgery to be totally back with both speed and command.
Lincoln should spend some time in Hickory and could move to Lynchburg before the season ends.
All and all,not a strong system and likely one of the 5 weakest in the game.
Look for a radically different list next year between a (Hopefully) large infusion of talent and the possibility of the top three players on the list being Pirates not prospects in 2009.
Photo Credits
McCutchen-Dean Lima-HardballWarriors.com
Walker-John Beal-Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pearce-Bill Gentry
Moskos-Jim Lytle-AP Photo
Lincoln-University of Houston
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