Pittsburgh Pirates Players Set To Benefit From The WBC

Who is about to get an opportunity to shine?

Life is all about opportunity. Getting and opportunity, and what one does with that opportunity, often times will make or break the direction in which they are heading. Well, there are a group of Pittsburgh Pirates players that are about to get an opportunity.

Today, five players off of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Major League roster will depart Bradenton to participate in the World Baseball Classic. These five players are Andrew McCutchen, Francisco Cervelli, Gregory Polanco, Josh Harrison, and Starling Marte.

With these five players leaving the team it will open the door for some other players. It is going to give other players an opportunity. In the coming weeks the Pirates will need players to man the outfield, catch, and play second base. And this is going to create a great opportunity for a handful of Pirate prospects.

However, it will not be just prospects that will receive an opportunity. There are some players that are battling to make the team out of spring that will be given a bigger opportunity starting today.

So, who is about to get an opportunity?

Outfielder Austin Meadows

Austin Meadows is the Pirates’ top prospect. Additionally, the 21-year old outfielder is one of the top prospects in all of baseball. According to Baseball America, Meadows currently checks in as the sixth best prospect in all of baseball.

In 2016 Meadows reached the Triple-A level. He played 37 games for the Indianapolis Indians and accumulated 145 plate appearances. He will begin the 2017 season back at Triple-A. Due to this, he is knocking on the door of the Major Leagues.

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Through the first 10 games of Grapefruit League play, Austin Meadows has accumulated 11 plate appearances. In these 11 trips to the plate Meadows is 2-for-9 with a double, two walks, three strikeouts, and a stolen base.

In the coming weeks Meadows should get plenty of opportunities to flash his hitting tools. Additionally, he will also get to flash his defensive tools in center field. As a five-tool player, there are few things Austin Meadows does not do well. Pirate fans will get to see a lot of this in the coming weeks.

One specific item to keep an eye on with Austin Meadows with the opportunity he is about to get is his strikeout rate. At Triple-A last season Meadows owned a 23.4 percent strikeout rate, and that is far too high.

Strikeouts have often plagued Meadows throughout his Minor League career. He owns a 19.4 percent strikeout rate in the Minor Leagues. While this is not astronomically high, it is still higher than you would like to see.

The ability to avoid strikeouts and put the ball in play more often when making outs is something to watch with Austin Meadows for the remainder of his time in Major League camp. Remember, not all outs are created equal.

His defense will be worth monitoring as well. While Meadows has always played center field throughout his Minor League career, as is the norm for top Pirate outfield prospects, there are some questions as to his ability to stay in center field long term. Many people feel Meadows is better suited for a corner outfield spot, which will make watching his center field defense worthwhile.

Austin Meadows is the future of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Thanks to the World Baseball Classic, Pirate fans will get a glimpse into the future the next few weeks.

First baseman/outfielder Jose Osuna

Jose Osuna continues to be a very intriguing hitting prospect for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He has always hit well in the Minor Leagues, and in recent years his power has been on an upward trajectory. You can read more about all of that here.

For a second consecutive year Jose Osuna is having an impressive spring. He continues to open eyes with his bat, while also playing a strong defensive first base. Osuna can also play the corner outfield positions.

With all three Pirate outfielders away at the World Baseball Classic, we could see a lot of Osuna in right field the next few weeks. Especially with first baseman Josh Bell set to return to the starting lineup this afternoon.

Jose Osuna will start the year at Triple-A Indianapolis, however, there is a great chance he sees time in the Major Leagues this season. Due to his bat, Osuna would make a lot of sense as a call up whenever a bat is needed this season.

The next few weeks will be a great opportunity for Osuna to continue to make a strong impression with Clint Hurdle and the Pirates.

Catcher Elias Diaz

Over the course of the past few seasons Elias Diaz has become a name that is well known among Pirate fans. He has been the team’s top catching prospect for a few years now, but he has yet to make any type of impact.

While Elias Diaz has plus defensive tools behind the plate, his offense has yet to progress. Considering he is already 26-years old, this is very concerning. However, Diaz is going to get an opportunity to show what he can do.

Not only is Francisco Cervelli going to play in the World Baseball Classic, but the Pirates are also easing Chris Stewart into things this spring. This is due to Stewart having knee surgery this past September. Due to this, Diaz should get plenty of opportunities to catch in the coming weeks.

Due to Francisco Cervelli being under team control for another two seasons, odds are, Elias Diaz will never make an impact in Pittsburgh outside of being Cervelli’s back up when Chris Stewart moves on. His odds of ever being a starting catcher in the Major Leagues keep going down as well.

The next few weeks will be a very good audition for Diaz to try and show the rest of baseball that he can handle the duties of a starting Major League catcher. Hopefully, he takes advantage of this opportunity. If he does he could be good trade bait for the Pirates come July.

Utility player Alen Hanson

At one time Alen Hanson was one of the top prospects in all of baseball and he appeared to be the shortstop of the future for the Pittsburgh Pirates. However, his career is now at a crossroads and this spring is very important to him.

Alen Hanson is out of options. Due to this, he can not be sent to the Minor Leagues without clearing waivers. He has to make the team out of Spring Training in order to avoid being designated for assignment.

So far this spring Hanson has started games at both shortstop and second base. In the coming weeks he could see a lot of time at second base with Harrison away from the team. Potentially, he could also make some starts in the outfield in an effort to add to his versatility.

It will be an uphill climb for Alen Hanson if he is going to make the Pirate roster. However, he will be given every opportunity to do so. What he does with those opportunities is completely in his hands.