PITTSBURGH — Minor League baseball named the Pirates prospects organizational All-Star team from the 2011 season.
Here are the buccos that made the team: Catcher Ramon Cabrera, first base Matt Hague, second base Jarek Cunningham, third base Elevys Gonzalez, shortstop Jordy Mercer, outfielders Robbie Grossman, Starling Marte and John Bowker, utility man Wes Freeman, right-handed starter Kyle McPherson, lefty starter Nathan Baker and reliever Tim Wood.
Cabrera, 22, finished with a career-high in average (.343) and RBI (53) with the High-A Bradenton Marauders in 2011. Cabrera lead the organization in avg, at-bats (327), third in hits (112) and won league’s batting title.
Hague, 26, finished the 2011 season with a .309 avg, 70 runs, 37 doubles, 12 home runs and 75 RBI with Triple-A Indianapolis. Hague became the first Indy Indian to lead the league in hits (165) since Junior Noboa in 1989. Hague ranked third in the system in RBI and doubles, sixth in average and first in games played (141) in his first season at the AAA level. Hague put up solid numbers in a ballpark that does not favor right-handed hitters and has hit at every level since being drafted in 2008. Hague’s solid season didn’t earn him a September call-up, but it did get him a spot on the 40-man roster after being Rule-5 eligible is off-season.
Cunningham, who turns 22 in December, season with the High-A Bradenton Marauders ended early after suffering concussion-like symptoms. Cunningham finished with a .258 avg, 53 runs, 23 doubles, six triples, 15 homers and 51 RBI over 80 games. His 15 homers were tied as the second-most in the system. Cunningham was leading the league in extra-base hits (44) before his season ended. He did, however, play in the Arizona Fall League where he batted .222 over 25 games.
Gonzalez, 22, finished second in the Florida State league with a .322 avg, while knocking in 83 runs, which was good for third in the league. Gonzalez’s 83 RBI were the most in the Pirates system in 2011, and he also ranked second in in hits (141). The switch-hitter finished the season with a .396 avg with runners in scoring position for the High-A Bradenton Marauders.
Mercer, 25, began the season with Double-A Altoona, where he was leading the team with 13 homers and 48 RBI over 72 games before being promoted to Triple-A in June. Mercer finished the season with a .255 avg, 30 doubles, 19 home runs and 69 RBI combined at both levels. The former third round pick was added to the 40-man roster this off-season after being Rule-5 eligible.
Grossman, 21, was named the Pirates Minor League Player-of-the-year after putting up a .294 avg with 13 home runs, 56 RBI and stole 24 bases with High-A Bradenton. In 134 games, Grossman drew 104 walks and scored 127 runs, becoming the first minor leaguer since Nick Swisher in 2004 to score at least 100 runs and walk 100 times in the same season. Grossman also played in the AFL, but his season ended short after requiring hamate bone surgery. Despite missing the final week, Grossman ranked third in hits (39), second in home runs (7), sixth in RBI (22), first in walks (20), sixth in stolen bases (6), fourth in average (.375), third in on base (.472) and fourth in OPS (1.097).
Marte, 23, was named the Eastern League Rookie of the Year after batting .332 over 129 games with Double-A Altoona in 2011. Marte ranked second in the system in average and first in hits (178) –which set a single season club record. Marte became the first Curve player to capture the batting title, he was named a mid-season and post-season All-Star and played in the All-Star Futures game. Marte set career-high’s in home runs (12), RBI (50) and runs (91).
Bowker, 28, appeared in 31 games in the Majors this season –19 with Pittsburgh at the beginning of the season and 12 in September with the Philadelphia Phillies. Bowker batted .306 with 15 homers, 27 doubles, and 76 RBI in 106 games with the Pirates Triple-A Indy club before being traded to the Phillies organization.
Freeman, 21, was batting .304 with 50 runs, 14 doubles and six homers before being promoted from Short Season State College to Low-A West Virginia. He was named MVP and to the mid-season All-Star team. Freeman took a huge step forward in 2011 after posting a .170 avg in 2010.
McPherson, 24, posted a 12-6 record with a 2.96 ERA over 161 innings combined with High-A Bradenton and Double-A Altoona. McPherson was named the Pirates Minor League Pitcher-of-the-year while leading the system in innings pitched and strikeouts (142) and ranked third in ERA.
Baker, 23, led the staff at High-A Bradenton in wins with 10 while finishing seventh in the organization with a 3.34 ERA. Baker walked 51 batters while striking out 105 over 29 appearances (25 starts). He also only gave up six homers over 148.1 innings. Baker’s solid season continued when he was selected to pitch in the AFL.
Wood, 29, lead all organization farmhands with saves (23) while with the Triple-A Indians while being named a post-season All-Star. He posted a 2.84 ERA over 40 games (44.1 innings). Wood also appeared in 13 games with Pittsburgh where he posted a 5.63 ERA in relief.
Photo credit: MILB
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