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The top 10 prospects in the Pirates' minor-league system
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1. Andrew McCutchen
Position: CF Height: 5-11
Weight: 170 Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Age: 20 How acquired: First-round pick (11th overall) in 2005 draft. The skinny: No one who watched the Pirates play Cincinnati the night of March 15 will forget McCutchen's highlight reel hat trick in the field. Has great speed and should be a .300 hitter in major leagues. Will start this season at Class AA Altoona. Projected arrival: Any month after April 2007.
2. Neil Walker
Position: 3B Height: 6-3
Weight: 210 Bats: Switch-hitter Throws: Right
Age: 21 How acquired: First-round pick (11th overall) in 2004. The skinny: Pine-Richland High School graduate moved from catcher to third base just before spring training and adapted quickly to the hot corner. Part of the reason is that Walker began doing third-base drills as far back as 2005. Will start this season with Altoona. Projected arrival: September 2007.
3. Brian Bixler
Position SS Height: 6-1
Weight: 196 Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Age: 24 How acquired: Second-round pick in 2004. The skinny: Drafted out of Eastern Michigan University, his college experience helped him move quickly through the minor-league system. A solid defensive player who makes good contact and knows how to move runners on the bases. Should start this season with Class AAA Indianapolis. Projected arrival: 2008.
4. Jared Hughes
Position RHP Height: 6-7
Weight: 238 Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Age: 21 How acquired: Fourth-round pick in 2006. The skinny: His height should give his pitches a good downward plane. Draft stock rose considerably after he was 7-0 with a 1.62 earned run average in Cape Cod League in 2005. Should start this season with low Class A Hickory. Projected arrival: 2010.
5. Brad Lincoln
Position RHP Height: 6-0
Weight: 216. Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Age: 21 How acquired: First-round pick (fourth overall) in 2006. The skinny: Lincoln was hailed as a prospect who would could climb quickly through the system after being drafted out of the University of Houston, but injuries last year and this spring will delay that. Pitched only 23 2/3 innings last summer before straining oblique. Probably will start this season in extended spring training. Projected arrival: 2009.
6. Michael Felix
Position LHP Height: 5-11
Weight: 206 Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Age: 21 How acquired: Second-round pick in 2006. The skinny: Attended Troy University, where he was primarily a reliever his final season. Was 1-6 with a 3.56 ERA for an offensively challenged Williamsport squad last summer. Struck out 49 in 48 innings. Probably will begin this season with Hickory. Projected arrival: 2010.
7. Steve Pearce
Position 1B Height: 5-11
Weight: 209 Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Age: 23 How acquired: Eighth-round pick in 2005. The skinny: Pearce, drafted out of South Carolina, hit 26 home runs -- tops among Pirates minor-leaguers -- last season and had 98 RBIs. Also had 40 doubles, which indicates home run power in the future. Probably will start this season with Lynchburg and could move to Altoona by midsummer. Projected arrival: 2010.
8. Brad Corley
Position OF Height: 6-2 Weight: 216 Bats: Right Throws: Right
Age: 23 How acquired: Second-round pick in 2005.
The skinny: Out of Mississippi State, where he was a teammate of left-hander Paul Maholm as a freshman. Led Pirates minor-leaguers with 100 RBIs in 534 at-bats with Hickory last year. Struck out 109 times; walked 18 times. Should start this season with Lynchburg.
Projected arrival: 2010.
9. Angel Gonzalez
Position SS Height: 5-11
Weight: 187 Bats: Switch-hitter Throws: Right
Age: 21 How acquired: Signed as non-drafted free agent Jan. 23, 2003. The skinny: From the Dominican Republic, Gonzalez is intriguing because he's a switch-hitting middle infielder. Batted .274 for Williamsport in the traditionally pitching-dominated New York-Penn League last season. Stole 15 bases in 65 games. Probably will start this season with Hickory. Projected arrival: 2011.
10. Steve Lerud
Position C Height: 6-1
Weight: 210 Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Age: 22 How acquired: Fourth-round pick in 2003. The skinny: Didn't sign until late in the 2003 season, so he didn't start his professional career until 2004. Injuries then slowed him his first two seasons, but last year with Hickory he played in 117 games and had 12 home runs, 57 RBIs and 146 strikeouts in 393 at-bats. Pirates love that he's a left-handed hitting catcher. Probably will start this season with high Class A Lynchburg. Projected arrival: 2010.
First Published March 31, 2007 12:00 am
