We start our look at the Pirates system with prospects 11-15.Thanks for the nice thoughts that were sent to me on the Indians series,I hope you enjoy this one as much as that one....
11) Colton Cain LHP GCL Pirates/Short Season State College
Cain's numbers at State College look pedestrian on the surface with an over five ERA,but a closer look shows an almost strikeout an inning average and hitters hit under .200 against him.
Cain stays in the low 90's but that velocity could improve a bit as time wears on.
Cain works a curve and change,but needs to refine both to improve.
Cain should be part of a West Virginia rotation that might be the most prospect laden in all of minor league baseball...
12) Jeff Locke LHP High A Bradenton/AA Altoona
Locke is the last hope for the Pirates to get anything out of the Nate McLouth trade of impact with the other pieces from the deal (Charlie Morton and Gorkys Hernandez) being disappointing to say the least.
Locke has lost a bit off of his fastball from his days with the Braves,but has used improvements with the curve and changeup to lift his numbers in 2010.
Locke was impressive in his Altoona stay after being promoted and showed good command with the Curve walking just twelve batters.
Locke could start with AAA Indianapolis,but I think he will return to Altoona to begin the season...
13) Robbie Grossman OF High A Bradenton
Some are beginning to drop Grossman on their charts,but I'll give him another year.
Grossman spent last year with light power and tons of strikeouts (118),which usually is not an effective combination.
Grossman projects to have decent power that hasnt shown up in games and has struggled with pitch recognition along with a less than terrific caught stealing ratio,which should not be happening with his plus speed.
On the plus side,Grossman was aggressively placed with Bradenton and was not entirely out of his element,showing potential to improve.
Grossman is likely to return to the Marauders with a fast start moving him to Altoona....
14) Mel Rojas Jr.OF Short Season State College
The only non pitcher selected by the Buccos in the first ten rounds of the 2010 draft,Rojas looks the part of a prospect with a 6'3,200 pound frame and speed to burn.
The questions to me looks to be power as in the lack of it and the average as in .207.
Zero homers and the same number of triples in a small sample size sets off a few alarms for me.
The body gives hope that Rojas could grow into his frame a bit and help the stick.
Rojas looks to be all projection and could either rise on this list next year or fall off completely.
Rojas will be the starter in center for low A West Virginia.....
15) Justin Wilson LHP AA Altoona
Wilson's second pro year was much more impressive than his first as he was able to keep the ball on the ground and his strikeout rate was much improved as well.
Wilson did have the occasional bout with the wildness bug and needs to keep working on the control aspect of the game.
Wilson uses the curve as his breaking pitch and stays in the low 90's for the most part,although he touches 95 per Baseball America.
Wilson might move up to AAA Indianapolis,but a Altoona return is possible with the large amount of possible entrants for Indianapolis rotation spots available.
Either way,Wilson should see more than his fair share of AAA time.....
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