Pirates Future

The Pittsburgh Pirates continue to have one of the best if not the best farm system in FCM, and a lot of those players are looking on comming up in the near future. Here is a run down of what to expect to see in the Future Pirates. The Pirates have a lot more prospects then what are listed below, this is just a list of the Pirates top prospects.

Catcher:

Not to long ago, Tony Sanchez was looking at career ending injuries from a team bus crash on the way to the winter leagues. A couple seasons later he seems himself as one of the top prospects in the Pittsburgh Pirates system. His road to recovery has been an amazing story.
Sanchez is best known for what he can do with his bat, as the 24 year old is prejected to become one of the best hitting catchers in the league.

Sanchez has good contact and power facing either a lefty or righty, but vs lefties scouts compare the amount of power he has to Albert Pujols. As a catcher, his fielding is just average, and his arm is nothing too special either, but he has done a fine job calling games in the minors. He does have a history at 1B if the Pirates decide to put him their in the future. Sanchez is projected to be the 2014 starting catcher.

Jason Schexnayder was a trade deadline pickup from the San Diego Padres, and the Pirates expect big things from him. Drafted by the Padres this year in the 1st round out of Jacksonville State, Schexnayder spent much of the season with the Fort Wayne Tincaps.

Schexnayder has not put up too many impressive numbers so far, but they really like his work ethic and see tag Schexnayder as their next Jose Bonilla. The best tool that Schexnayder has shown so far besides his defense, is working the count and getting on base, which will get any player far in baseball. Schexnayder is not expected to make the majors for a few seasons.

1st Baseman

Jesus Guzman has really developed well this season.  He leads the Pirates in batting average at .329 and has an OBP of .419.  His great play this season has him projected to stay as the Pirates first baseman next season, even though he does lack the homerun numbers which most 1st baseman put up. 

22 year old Jamie Valdez has had a great season so far this year in AAA.  Valdez has 24 homeruns and already over 100 RBI's for the Indianapolis Indians this season.  He was the first pick draft pick ever picked by GM Jordan as the 2nd pick of the 2010 draft.  Valdez can play 3B, where a lot of scouts expect him to play in the majors as a starter next year, to do being blocked by Guzman, but Valdez does not have the defence that typical third baseman have.  He has mediocre fielding and not a cannon for an arm a typical 3rd baseman should have.  He has even worse range, so expect many batters to try to hit the ball to the left side against the Pirates in 2014.  Valdez is also able to play in the corner outfield positions, but do to the fact that the Pirates have a lot of outfielders, and not a lot of infielders, Valdez is projected to play 3B.

2nd Baseman

The 21 year old Dan Vick is the top 2B prospect in the Pirates farm system.  He was initialy acquired in the  third round by the Houston astros in 2011 draft, but later that season traded to Seattle.  Last month the Mariners traded Vick to the Pirates.  Vick has a .321 batting average this season in AAA.  Scouts think of Vick as a similar player to Jesus Guzman, a player with good contact, but not greay power.  He does have decent fielding which is a much for a middle infielder.  Some scouts think Vick still needs some seasoning in the minors, but GM Jordan is hoping to have Vick as the starting 2B for the 2014 season.

Randy Necaise, just 20 years old, is showing good tools so far, but is still far from the majors.

3rd Baseman

Tim Cox is just 21 and still a few years away from the big leagues, but he is the top 3B prospect in the Pirates system.  The Pirates, who lacked a solid 3B prospect, made it their goal to pick one up this season.  They acquired Cox from the Mariners in the same deal that landed them Vick.  Cox is showing good contact and power for a 2B, and so far in the minors he seems pretty indestructable, playing in almost every game this year.  Expect Cox to be in Pittsburgh no sooner then 2015.

Shortstop

Will Wainscott was the number one draft pick for the Pittsburgh Pirates this season.  A  former Tar Heel from the University of North Carolina,
Wainscott was drafted first do to the Pirates lack of infield prospects.  Wainscott has been effective this year, batting is .338 in A ball with a .406 OBP.  He is a solid prospect in every aspect, but likely wont be in the big leagues for a few seasons. 

Left Field:
Agustin Verero, the Pirates first pick of the 2011 draft from Mexico has been slowly progressing season by season and looks ready to make the big leagues in 2010.  Verero has been labled as one of Jordan's favorite prospects do to his bat skills.  He does strike out often, but isn't just a homerun masher.  He knows how to hit the ball to all fields, and has 33 doubles on the season in AAA.  He is not the best of fielders, but you don't really need a great fielder in left field.
Rest coming soon...

Projected 2014 Pirates:

C: Tony Sanchez

1B Jesus Guzman

2B Dan Vick

3B Jamie Valdez

SS Yuniesky Betancourt

LF Augstin Verero

CF Wesley Freeman

RF Avisail Garcia

SP Tim Alderson

SP Alfonso Predrassa

SP Gary Boston

SP Raul Mata

SP P.J. Dean