Elias Diaz, Tyler Glasnow, Josh Bell, Other Pirates Talent Open Season Today

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Arizona Fall League begins today.

The Arizona Fall League will provide a few more opportunities for young Pittsburgh Pirates talent.  The one name that we are keeping an eye on will be Elias Diaz who broke out in a big way in 2014.  Diaz played with the Double A Altoona Curve.  The Venezuelan signed as an international free agent in 2008 and was thought of as a defensive first catcher.

But in the second half of last season the offense started to click and continued in the Eastern League this season.  Diaz clearly stood out on the Curve roster during the games we witnessed.  The Pirates promoted him to AAA Indianapolis, but he struggled with the bat.

In the AFL, keep an eye on Diaz against left-handers–he killed them this season.  With the thought of Russell Martin heading out of town, some think Diaz could be on the big league club at some point in the very near future.  If Chris Stewart sticks as the Bucs starting catcher, the backup position will be up for grabs.  Diaz was named the best defensive catcher in the Eastern League and threw out 31 percent of runners.

The Scorpions will also have Josh Bell and Dan Gamache on the roster.  Bell will be playing first base.

Tyler Glasnow, Adrian Sampson, and Joely Rodriguez are the right handed starting pitchers to watch for with Scottsdale with lefty Tom Harlan coming out of the bullpen.

Scottsdale Scorpions preview Minor League Ball