Austin Meadows Returns to Action at Triple-A

The Pittsburgh Pirates’ top prospect returned to action at Triple-A on Tuesday night

Outfielder Austin Meadows is one of the top hitting prospects in all of baseball. This makes him the top hitting prospect in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ system. However, much of this season he has battled hamstring issues.

After spending time on the minor league disabled list, Austin Meadows is back in action for the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians. This puts him back on the doorstep of the Major Leagues for the Pirates.

Prior to rejoining the Indians, Austin Meadows rehabbed with the Pirates’ Low-A and Rookie League affiliates. With Low-A West Virginia, Meadows owned just a .308 wOBA and a 92 wRC+. However, at the Rookie League level he owned a .732 wOBA and a wRC+ of 345 in just 14 plate appearances.

Prior to his latest hamstring issue, Austin Meadows’ stats at Triple-A were nothing special. In 281 plate appearances he owned a .313 on-base percentage, .302 wOBA, and a wRC+ of 86. However, his overall stats are drug down by a poor April.

Since the start of May Meadows owned a .357 on-base percentage, a .356 wOBA, and a 121 wRC+. This is more the Austin Meadows that the Pittsburgh Pirates and their fans expected to see when they drafted him in the top-10 of the 2013 Major League Baseball Draft.

In his return to action for the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians on Tuesday night, Austin Meadows had a strong game. Meadows started in center field, hit second, and played a key role in an Indians victory.

Austin Meadows went 2-for-5 with a double on Tuesday night. This double was his 17th of the season. Hopefully, now that he is healthy, Austin Meadows will finish the season strong at Triple-A.

Next: Bucs Suffer Frustrating Loss vs Brewers

Austin Meadows is the future face of the Pirate franchise. The best case scenario for the Pirates is that Meadows finishes this season strong, has a big 2018 at Triple-A, and then replaces Andrew McCutchen in the Major Leagues in 2019.