Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Top 100 Prospect Lists

Two sites published their top 100 (101) prospect lists for the 2018 seasons.  Each list featured at least three prospects from the Pirates.

While MLB Pipeline is starting their positional unit prospect lists – the Pirates have a top ten prospect among the right-handed pitcher and third baseman groups – and Fangraphs are doing their team lists, Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus have completed their team lists and have released their top 100 (101) prospects to start the 2019 season.

On Baseball America’s prospect list, the Pirates have the following players and ranks:

• Mitch Keller: 26
• Ke’Bryan Hayes: 49
• Oneil Cruz: 79

Baseball Prospectus’ list features:

• Keller: 18
• Hayes: 55
• Travis Swaggerty: 82
• Cruz: 91
• Calvin Mitchell: 97

Keller projects to be ready this upcoming 2019 season, projecting as a number three starter with number two upside.  He pitched to a 3.48 ERA with a 22.6 percent strikeout rate across Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis.  The right-hander sits in the mid 90s with an above average hook.

Hayes is more known for his defensive abilities than his bat, but the soon to be 22 year-old hit .293/.375/.444 in Double-A.  He projects for a slightly better than average hit tool with average to a bit below average power.  He’ll start the season in Triple-A and look to be ready to contribute to the Pirates in 2020.

Cruz is an interesting prospect based on his high risk where being a star or a bust is more probable than being an average starter.  He’s at least 6’6″ and might eventually have to move off shortstop, but he projects for plus power and has a plus arm.  He hit .286/.343/.488  for the West Virginia Power this past season.

Swaggerty was the Pirates first pick in 2018, and after hitting .288/.365/.453 in 36 games for the Low-A West Virginia Black Bears, the outfielder hit .129/.225/.226 in 16 games in A-Ball.  Swaggerty projects as an average starter and has the speed to stay in center.

Mitchell was a second round pick in 2017 out of high school, hitting .245/.351/.352 in his professional debut.  This past season for the A-Ball West Virginia Power, the 19 year-old hit .280/.344/.427.  The public scouting reports don’t like the defense or the speed, and Mitchell is already stuck in a corner, so the bat needs to play.

The National League Central has the following number of prospects in their top 100 (101).  When Fangraphs and MLB Pipeline releases their top 100 lists, a similar method to last year will be used.