Pittsburgh Pirates Wise To Wait With Tyler Glasnow

Oct 1, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle (13) shakes hands with players during introductions prior to the 2014 National League Wild Card playoff baseball game against the San Francisco Giants at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Many believe stud minor leaguer Tyler Glasnow is the best pitcher in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. Glasnow posted a terrific 2014 after coming off an injury as he dominated the minors by holding hitters to only a .174 batting average, striking out 157 batters in 124 1.3 innings and earning MiLB.com’s Pitcher of the Year Award.

The 21-year-old has all the potential in the world and is widely considered one of the top players in the minors and the best overall prospect in the Pirates farm system. Many analysts think Glasnow will be called up in 2016, but if he continues to dominate in 2015, fans will be yelling at the top of their lungs to management to call up the 6-7 power right-hander will be called up. The thoughts of Gerrit Cole and Glasnow in the same staff is a beautiful thing to dream about for baseball fans, but the Pirates management seems to have an understanding that waiting to call up pitchers is not only better for the player, it is better for the team. The Pirates waited on Cole and he is now the true ace of the staff. He has quickly turned from a pitcher who thought he could just throw fastballs by hitters to a pitcher who has the idea that getting outs on one or two pitches is better in the long run. Cole is an excellent example of how Glasnow should be treated.

Glasnow will definitely have a terrific 2015 and if he is not slowed by injuries, he will only increase his value to the team. He can hit mid to upper 90s on the gun and his strikeout rate is incredible. Still, he has a lot to learn and spending some time on other pitchers in his arsenal will make him a well-rounded pitcher who could give the Pirates two aces at the top of the rotation. If Glasnow is called next year, it should be later in the season and he probably should be a long reliever or a starter who only goes five or six innings.

All signs point to Glasnow being a high-caliber pitcher, but giving him another year to develop will be best for both parties.