PITTSBURGH — Baseball America released the 2012 Top 10 prospects in the Pirates system today. Here is the list:
1. RHP Gerrit Cole
2. RHP Jameson Taillon
3. OF Josh Bell
4. OF Starling Marte
5. RHP Luis Heredia
6. RHP Kyle McPherson
7. C Tony Sanchez
8. OF Robbie Grossman
9. RHP Stetson Allie
10. LHP Jeff Locke
Cole, 21, was drafted by Pittsburgh in the first round (first overall) of the 2011 draft. The UCLA alum made his professional debut in the Arizona Fall League. He posted a 2-0 record with a 3.00 ERA over five starts. Cole allowed five earned runs on 10 hits over 15.0 innings with four walks and 16 strikeouts with the Mesa Solar Sox.
Taillon, 20, went 2-3 with a 3.98 ERA in 23 starts (92.2 innings) for the Low-A West Virginia Power during the 2011 season. Taillon was the Pirates first round pick (2nd overall) in the 2010 draft. Taillon also pitched in the Fall Instructional League (You can read more here). He was ranked as the Bucs No. 2 best prospect prior to the 2011 season by Baseball America.
Bell, 19, was the Pirates second round pick in the 2011 draft. Bell played in the Fall Instructional League in Bradenton, Fla. (You can read more here). Bell hit .548 with 13 home runs, 54 RBI, 54 runs scored with a 1.054 slugging percentage as a senior for Dallas Jesuit (TX) High School. He struck out just five times in his 139 plate appearances.
Marte, 23, was named the Eastern League Rookie of the year, won the Eastern League batting title, and was the Altoona Curve’s most valuable player in 2011. Marte also set an single-season Altoona Curve franchise record with 178 hits. He finished with a .332 average, a career-high 12 home runs, 50 RBI and scored 91 runs with Double-A Altoona. Marte was ranked as the Pirates No. 4 best prospect by Baseball America prior to the 2011 season. Marte was also added to the Bucs 40-man roster last week.
Heredia, 17, was signed in 2010 as an international free-agent. Heredia posted a 1-2 record with a 4.75 ERA over 12 games (11 starts) in the Gulf Coast League. Heredia walked 19 and struck out 23. He was ranked as the Pirates No. 5 best prospect prior to the 2011 season.
McPherson, 23, was named the Pirates minor league Pitcher-of-the-year in 2011 (You can read more here). He was also named the Altoona Curve’s pitcher-of-the-year. McPherson went 12-6 with a 2.96 ERA with 142 strikeouts in 28 starts between High-A Bradenton and Double-A Altoona. He finished with an organizational leading 142 strikeouts. McPherson makes his first spot in the Pirates Top 10 list.
Sanchez, 23, saw his offensive numbers take a dip in the 2011 season, but his defense behind the plate and game calling took a step forward. Sanchez finished the 2010 season with High-A Bradenton batting .314. However, Sanchez underwent season-ending jaw surgery after getting hit in the face by a pitch. He was on a liquid diet while his jaw was wired shut and had trouble gaining back the weight he lost this year. Sanchez batted .241 in Double-A this season. Sanchez was ranked as the Pirates No. 2 best prospect by Baseball America prior to the 2011 season.
Grossman, 21, was named the Pirates Minor League Player-of-the-Year after having a solid year with High-A Bradenton (You can read more here). 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 played in the AFL, but his season ended short after requiring hamate bone surgery. Despite missing the final week, Grossman ranked ninth in runs (20), 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). Grossman was named the Pirates No. 25 best prospect prior to the 2011 season.
Allie, 20, was the Pirates second round pick in the 2010 draft. He finished with a 6.58 ERA over 15 games with the State College Spikes in 2011. Allie finished with a strong month of August where he posted a 3.38 ERA over six games. Allie was ranked as the Pirates No. 3 best prospect prior to the 2011 season.
Locke, 24, made 23 starts in Double-A and five starts in Triple-A before getting a September callup. Locke posted a 3.70 ERA in the minors in 2011. Locke made his major league debut on September 28th and went 0-3 with a 6.48 ERA overall in five big league starts. Locke was ranked as the Pirates No. 8 best prospect by Baseball America prior to the 2011 season.
Baseball America also pointed out the best tools in the system:
Best Hitter for average: Starling Marte
Best power hitter: Josh Bell
Best strike zone discipline: Robbie Grossman
Fastest base runner: Alen Hanson
Best Athlete: Marte
Best Fastball: Gerrit Cole
Best curveball: Jameson Taillon
Best slider: Cole
Best changeup: Kyle McPherson
Best control: McPherson
Best defensive catcher: Tony Sanchez
Best defensive infielder: Pedro Ciriaco
Best defensive outfielder: Gorkys Hernandez
Best infield arm: Jordy Mercer
Best outfield arm: Starling Marte
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