Pittsburgh Pirates Minor League Minute – October 12th

In this edition of the Pittsburgh Pirates Minor League Minute, we will give you a look at a few more postseason awards that were handed out, give you a glimpse at who is playing where during Winter and Fall Ball and a few notable links that may be of interest to you.

First, Baseball America named their top twenty prospects for all of the minor league divisions.

We told you about most of the levels of the Pittsburgh Pirates Minor League System in our last Minor League Minute. There was one league that hadn’t been announced yet.  The International League which is where the Indianapolis Indians reside.

The Pirates were represented in the International League Top Twenty by 1B Josh Bell. Bell placed twelfth on the top twenty by Baseball America. As you may recall, Bell placed twentieth on the Baseball America Top Twenty for the Eastern League as a member of the Altoona Curve.

Second, The West Virginia Black Bears collect another award for inaugural season.

As you all know, The 2015 New York Penn League Championship belongs to the West Virginia Black Bears. Last week it was announced the Black Bears General Manager, Matthew Drayer, has been named the New York Penn League Executive of the Year for 2015. Drayer has successfully led the move from Jamestown, oversaw the construction of Monongalia County Ballpark and the creation of the Black Bears.

More from Pirates Prospects

• Pittsburgh Pirates Prospect Stockwatch: Outfielder Tres Gonzalez
• Pittsburgh Pirates: Top Pitching Prospects Fans Could See Early in 2023
• Pittsburgh Pirates: Three Prospects to Watch Early in 2023
• Pittsburgh Pirates: Bold Strategy to Start at Second Base
• Pittsburgh Pirates: Taking Stock of Teenage Prospects

Third, The Pirates have several players playing Fall/Winter Ball.

The Arizona Fall League is getting ready to start this week. The players from the Pittsburgh Pirates farm system will be playing for the Glendale Desert Dogs. These players will join other minor league players from the Chicago White Sox, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies. The pitchers from the Pirates organization on the roster are LHP Steven Brault from the Altoona Curve, LHP Cody Dickson from the Bradenton Marauders, RHP Tyler Eppler from the Altoona Curve and RHP Brett McKinney of the Altoona Curve. The only catcher from the Pirates organization is Reese McGuire from the Bradenton Marauders. The only infielder is Adam Frazier of the Altoona Curve. The only outfielder is Austin Meadows. Meadows spent time with the Bradenton Maruaders and the Altoona Curve this past season.

The Pirates also have several players that are playing Winter Ball in Venezuela and Mexico.

In the Venezuela League the Pirates have several players:

INF/OF Elvis Escobar and RHP Jhondaniel Medina are playing for Cardenales de Lara.

LHP Zack Dodson and OF Gorkys Hernandez are playing for Caribes de Anzoategui.

Catcher Francisco Diaz, INF Jose Osuna and OF Junior Sosa are scheduled to play for Bravos de Margarita.

RHP A.J. Morris is scheduled to play for Navegantes del Magallanes.

RHP Wilfredo Boscan and RHP Julio Vivas are scheduled to play for Aguilas de Zulia.

In the Mexican league, the Pirates have several players:

Catcher Sebastian Valle is scheduled to play for Caneros de los Mochis.

RHP Felipe Gonzalez, RHP Luis Heredia, 1B Carlos Munoz and OF Harold Ramirez  are scheduled to play for Venados de Mazatlan.

Finally, A few notable links:

Pirates Prospects is reporting that Steve Lombardozzi, Josh Wall and Hunter Morris have declared for Free Agency. (Paywall)

Bob Smizik of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette has an interesting article today that is worth a read. “Disappointing Minor-League System Must Improve”

This has been the Minor League Minute for October 12th. Keep watching for these posts throughout the offseason for the Minor League affiliates.

Next: Reviewing the 2015 Pirates Season