Finally,we begin this series and after only three revisions too!
The series is using the criteria used before the season and took into consideration prospect performance during the first two months of the season.
11) Shelby Ford 2b AAA Indianapolis
Ford was a top ten resident in the first draft of this before the season and before the trade with the Braves,but a injury combined with an awful 2009 thus far has sent Ford's stock spiralling downward and could drop further unless a strong finish is in the cards.
Ford has to get by with the bat as he is average with the leather and .174 and a homer isn't going to cut it.
Had Ford played anywhere close to average,he could have been the replacement if Freddy Sanchez gets traded,now that looks doubtful at best....
12) Chase D'Arnaud SS Low A West Virginia
The Pirates spent their third and fourth round picks on college shortstops in the 2008 draft and have been forced to keep them apart in order to give both time to develop.
D'Arnaud was the lower of the two picks out of Pepperdine,but after seeing him along with Jordy Mercer,I tend to like D'Arnaud slightly better.
With an OPS of over 800,Chase appears to be ready for a shot at Lynchburg,but with the great season by Brian Friday at Altoona blocking both D'Arnaud and Jordy Mercer,Chase could be at West Virginia most of the season.
A move to second base for one or both of the players may be in the cards considering Friday's season and the systems lack of second baseman behind the slumping Shelby Ford.
13) Jordy Mercer SS High A Lynchburg
Mercer has struggled with the bat in both of his pro seasons although his 30 RBI places him third on the Hillcats.Mercer has a gun at short but seems to struggle with his lateral movement in the field.
Yet another Pirate infielder that has to have his bat as his calling card and thus far has been unable to use it to shine.
Mercer needs a strong finish to keep prospect status after an less than impressive start to his career in the pros.
14) Jim Negrych 2b AA Altoona
The contact hitting Negrych leaped from the starting gate hitting .373 in April and giving hope that he could see AAA ball before the seasons end,but a below .200 May has dampened those hopes a bit.
Negrych is a brutal fielder no matter where he plays and was switched from third to the less demanding second going into the season.
Negrych needs to hit at every level because his upside is as a utility man that is a valuable pinch hitter as the glove will not allow him to play every day...
15) Quinton Miller-Extended Spring Training
The 20th rounder that signed for 900,000 last season has yet to throw a pro pitch and likely will be in Bradenton all summer starting with the Gulf Coast Pirates.The hard throwing Miller makes the list strictly on projection and talent alone.
Two players slid off the list with the arrivals of Jeff Locke and Gorkys Hernandez and both were relievers from Altoona.
Daniel Moskos has more walks than strikeouts for the season,struggles with control nightly and hitters are batting 286 against him.
Moskos has improved in May,but still isn't striking anyone out...
Jeff Sues looked to possibly be in Pittsburgh by seasons end with some luck,but a bad May has inflated his ERA to over six.
Hitters are hitting just .236 against him though and he is averaging just under a strikeout an inning,so hope is still there....
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