Pittsburgh Pirates top prospects 6-10

The series moves into phase two with the Pirates top prospects in the six through ten range.
Remember that the ratings have been revised three times since the original version.....

6) Jeff Locke LHP High A Lynchburg
Locke is one of the top prospects to come out of New England in years and Atlanta brought him along slowly since his workload in his prep years was not as high as players from warmer climates.
Locke throws in the mid 90's and has a solid curve and changeup as well,but for all the projection has been unable to back it up with performance as his numbers were average at low A Rome last season and not any better this season at Myrtle Beach.
Locke is the key to the Nate McLouth deal being a success as hard throwing lefties are a scarce commodity....

7) Bryan Morris RHP High A Lynchburg
Morris has not thrown a pitch all year and his most notable item thus far has been his appearance in the Lynchburg baseball card set without traveling with the team this season.
Morris has had arm/shoulder issues this season after a toe problem was dealt with under surgery in the off season.
Morris throws in the low to mid 90's and uses an effective changeup,but needs to work on the curve and continuing to miss time has not helped that process along.
Morris is currently in Florida and hope is that he will join the Hillcats for the second half of the Carolina League season.
Morris was an important yet unheralded part of the Jason Bay trade last season in Neal Huntington's attempt to change the Pirate pitching system's style to more of a hard throwing group on the farm.
Morris dropped two spots after the trade with the Braves mainly due to his injury issues.

8) Neil Walker 3B AAA Indianapolis
The former first round pick continues to slide down the prospect list as he has not developed as hoped at AAA Indianapolis,repeating the level after an less than desired 2008.
Walker showed decent power (16 HR's) and drove in 80 runs,but his average was just .242 last year and is in the same range currently.
Plate discipline has been an issue for Walker as he walked less than 30 times last season and is on pace to only marginally best that total this season.
Walker has worked hard to develop as a defensive third baseman after being moved from catcher,in what is appearing to be a questionable decision.
He looks to be behind both Andy LaRoche and Pedro Alvarez on the depth chart at third and that could mean that he could be eventually moved to another position or organization....

9) Robbie Grossman CF Low A West Virginia
Grossman was paid a million dollar bonus to sign and eschew a scholarship to Texas and thus far seems to be worth the price.
The Pirates decided to challenge Grossman early with an assignment to the South Atlantic League instead of the traditional extended spring training and subsequent trip to short season State College and Grossman has done well enough to spend the season there.
Grossman is hitting leadoff for the Power and has stolen 17 bases at this writing as well as hitting .269 which is solid enough considering his age.
Grossman is striking out a lot and that too is to be expected,but is playing strong enough defense in center,which was a worry by the Pirates,who thought that he might have to be moved to left.
Grossman has just one homer and his power hopes to develop more with age,but overall has performed quite well to the challenge of the ambitious assignment....

10) Brian Friday SS AA Altoona
Friday has moved up the charts with the type of performance at Altoona that was missing from his 2008 season at Lynchburg.
Friday missed most of the first month of the season,but has returned with a vengeance at Altoona hitting above .300 with better than expected power (4 HR's).
Friday is steady enough defensively and can steal a few bases as well.
If Friday has a June in the Eastern League that is similar to his May,the Pirates will have a key decision to make at shortstop in Indianapolis.
If Friday has a chance to replace Jack Wilson next year,he will need to be challenged by International League hurling this year.