The Pirates' top 10 prospects

The top players in the franchise's minor-league system going into the 2006 season

Saturday, April 01, 2006

John Beale, Post-Gazette

Neil Walker: The only question seems to be at what position his future rests.

Neil Walker		C
Height: 6-3		Weight: 211
Bats: S	Throws: R	Age: 20
Acquired: First-round draft pick (11th overall), 2004. Comments: Pirates maintain Walker is fine defensively at his position, but there’s a strong chance he’ll move to third base at some point. “He’s going to be a catcher this year,” player development director Brian Graham said, “and we’re going to continue working him out at third base with the idea that if Ryan Doumit, Humberto Cota and Ronny Paulino are catching in the big leagues and doing what we anticipate they can, and if Neil Walker could play third base and his bat came faster than his defense did and he was a solid, average, defensive third baseman, we would definitely consider that. … But right now we want him to be a switch-hitting catcher. Projected arrival: 2008


Brad Eldred		1B
Height: 6-5		Weight: 274
Bats: R	Throws: R	Age: 25
Acquired: Sixth-round draft pick, 2002. Comments: The club’s top power prospect, he hit 12 home runs in 190 at-bats after his July 22 call-up from Class AAA Indianapolis. He also struck out 77 times. He’ll play this season with Indianapolis, focusing on pitch awareness and selection. But his power is too tantalizing to keep him from getting another big-league shot. “When he makes contact, it’s sick what he does,” Pirates hitting instructor Jeff Manto said. “ … He has the power to shrink any ballpark. Projected re-arrival: 2007

Andrew McCutchen		CF
Height: 5-11		Weight: 170
Bats: R	Throws: R	Age: 19
Acquired: First-round draft pick (11th overall), 2005. Comments: Had solid first half-season as a pro, hitting .297 with Bradenton and .346 (in 52 at-bats) for Williamsport. Has impressive maturity and was successful in major-league camp this year. Said Pirates manager Jim Tracy: “He’s going to be a major-league player. A good major-league player. A real good major-league player. Projected arrival: 2009

Jose Bautista		3B
Height: 6-0		Weight: 190
Bats: R	Throws: R	Age: 25
Acquired: Originally Pirates’ 20th-round pick in 2000 draft. Comments: Set back a lot by injuries in 2003 (only 188 at-bats) and then set back even more by being lost in Rule 5 draft after that season. Played in 2004 with Baltimore, Tampa Bay, Kansas City and Pirates, but had just 88 at-bats. Scheduled to play third base at Indianapolis this season but has ability to play other positions. His future position will be determined by his progress — and Walker’s ability to play third base if Pirates so deem. Projected re-arrival: 2007

Tom Gorzelanny		P
Height: 6-2		Weight: 210
Bats: L	Throws: L	Age: 23
Acquired: Second-round draft pick, 2003. Comments: Another of the impressive young left-handers. Was 8-5 with a 3.26 earned run average in 23 starts for Class AA Altoona last year. Allowed just six home runs (all by right-handed hitters) in 130 innings. Had signature performance against Akron in Eastern League playoffs, throwing a four-hit, no-walk, 13-strikeout shutout. Projected re-arrival: 2006

Yurendell DeCaster		IF/OF
Height: 6-1		Weight: 203
Bats: R	Throws: R	Age: 26
Acquired: Rule 5 pick from Tampa Bay, 2000. Comments: Has been under the radar among Pirates prospects but improved status with strong winter-league performance — .325, 17 home runs, 47 RBIs in 60 games for Oriente in Venezuela. Will start this season at Indianapolis. Can play all positions except pitcher and catcher. “He’ll be a utility guy who will play every day,” Graham said. “He’s kind of your right-handed hitting Rob Mackowiak who’s behind [Mackowiak] in terms of performance at the major-league level but in terms of pure talent very similar to Mackowiak. Projected arrival: 2006

Ronny Paulino		C
Height: 6-2		Weight: 240
Bats: R	Throws: R	Age: 24
Acquired: Signed as a non-drafted free agent Dec. 29, 1997. Comments: Played in two games for Pirates in September after solid half-season with Indianapolis (.315, 13 home runs, 42 RBIs). Has made solid strides defensively. Rated by Baseball America as the organization’s best defensive catcher before the 2005 and ’06 seasons. Should serve as more than adequate fill-in should injuries befell catchers Ryan Doumit and Humberto Cota. Projected re-arrival: 2006

Josh Sharpless		P
Height: 6-5		Weight: 235
Bats: R	Throws: R	Age: 25
Acquired: 24th-round draft pick, 2003. Comments: Exclusively a reliever in his first three professional seasons, Sharpless might become a starter, probably beginning the year at Altoona. “Since minicamp [in January], he’s stair-stepped his way upward,” Tracy said. “It’s [only] a matter of time before we’re talking strongly about him coming [to the Pirates] to start.” Sharpless allowed only three earned runs in 36 innings last season split between Class A Lynchburg and Class AA Altoona before elbow inflammation ended his season June 30. In 90 professional games has averaged 13.5 strikeouts per nine innings. Projected arrival: 2007

Rajai Davis		CF
Height: 5-11		Weight: 197
Bats: R	Throws: R	Age: 25
Acquired: 38th-round draft pick, 2001. Comments: Leadoff-type hitter who has batted .318 with 177 stolen bases (in 226 attempts) in five pro seasons. Needs to walk and bunt for hits more. Has great speed. Defense has been inconsistent. Last season batted .281 and tied for Eastern League lead with 43 stolen bases (in 52 attempts) for Altoona. Has been named to league All-Star teams in each of past four seasons. Should start this season at Indianapolis. Projected arrival: 2007

Adam Boeve		OF
Height: 6-2		Weight: 216
Bats: R	Throws: R	Age: 25
Acquired: 12th-round draft pick, 2003. Comments: Boeve, whose last name rhymes with “movie”, continues to write an impressive “Major League” script for himself. Split last season between Lynchburg and Altoona, hitting a combined .303 with 18 home runs and 70 RBIs . “Some guys go about their work because the coaches ask them to do it,” said hitting instructor Jeff Manto. “He does his work because he wants to go to the big leagues. … As soon as you think, 'He’s going to be overmatched here,’ he does something and you think, 'Wow, he was supposed to be overmatched and he gets a base hit.’ As hard as he works, he has a chance. He really, really does. Projected arrival: 2008