Pittsburgh Pirates Prospect in MLB Pipeline Top 100 List

For a while the Pittsburgh Pirates saw their representation on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 go down.  This was because of the positive success that the team had from 2013-2015.  That is what comes with winning in baseball, the loss of top picks, trades to acquire big league talent rather than prospects, and in general less money to spend on the amateur front.

Add all that up, along with the team graduating a lot of players that led to the team’s success, and the Bucs had a farm system that quickly was drying up.  However, with the team regressing some over the last few years the farm system has started to become replenished.  That is shown on this list which saw the Pittsburgh Pirates go from two top 100 prospects at this time last year to four on this year’s list.

Of the four on the list, two of them very well could make impacts this season.  Both Hayes and Keller will be in Triple-A to start the year.  Keller is the more likely candidate to be called up first with teams always needing starting pitching depth to help out.  Hayes’ potential call up will depend on how the tandem of Jung Ho Kang and Colin Moran perform early on this season, especially the righty in Kang.  Meanwhile, Cruz and Swaggerty will likely be together in High-A to start the season.