Pittsburgh Pirates: MLB Pipeline Prospect Update

Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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MLB Pipeline has put out their updated mid-season prospect lists, including a new top 100 list and new top 30 lists for each organization.  The Pittsburgh Pirates are well represented.

The Pittsburgh Pirates found six of their prospects rated in the top 100, including 4 in the top 30.  The Pirates under Neal Huntington have found themselves always being one of the top teams in terms of prospects on the list.  The following is the players who made the list and where they are ranked:

Tyler Glasnow: Glasnow finds himself ranked #10 on the list, the highest rated Pittsburgh Pirates.  He has made two professional starts so far and is now on the DL.  With that we have seen how good Glasnow’s stuff is, but we are still seeing the issue holding him back, his command.

Austin Meadows: The former #9 overall pick in 2013 is now ranked 12th and is ranked as the second best outfield prospect in all of baseball.  A career .309 hitter, he is looking to get off the disabled list in Triple-A and continue to push toward making his debut next season.

Josh Bell: The most popular prospect in the Pirates system right now is Bell who is ranked at #29.  He had four plate appearance in the majors and made the most of them by hitting a RBI single, drawing two walks, and of course hitting a grand-slam.  He is back at Triple-A trying to improve on the defensive side of things.

Jameson Taillon: Taillon should be finding his way off these lists.  Coming in at #30 for the mid-season rankings, Taillon will find himself with the Pittsburgh Pirates for the rest of the season.  Taillon is very polished for a young pitcher, and he seems to becoming more and more comfortable with each stat at the big league level.

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Kevin Newman: As many know Newman has been the biggest riser out of all the Pirate prospects.  Newman was a first round pick for the Bucs in 2015, and with that he is proving why coming in ranked as the #53 prospect on the list.  Between High-A and Double-A he is batting .350 and playing solid defense.  The Pirates may have their shortstop of the future and there is a very good chance that he will be here next season.

Mitch Keller: The next top pitching prospect in the Pirates system, Keller just made the cut at #89.  Keller who is just 20 years of age has shown great command at such a young age.  On the year Keller has 100 strikeouts with only 14 walks in 97.2 innings pitched.  Keller will likely get a promotion to High-A by the end of the season. The 2nd round pick in 2014 could be a trade chip also if the Pirates decide to get aggressive in the trade market.

Related Story: 2016 Draft Prospect Roundup

This will be a two-part series.  Tomorrow I will break down MLB Pipeline’s top 30 rankings for the Pittsburgh Pirates organization.  Comment below on the top 100 prospect rankings, did the Pirates get snubbed anywhere or are you happy with the representation?