Pittsburgh Pirates: Three Prospects In The MLB Pipeline Top 100

(Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
(Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
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The Borderlines

Of the two players in the Pirates’ system that made MLB.com’s top 10 players at each position list, one did not make it. That one player being South Korean middle infield prospect Ji-Hwan Bae. Last season, Bae played just 86 games/380 plate appearances in part due to domestic violence charges which led to a suspension by the MLB.

But in Single-A Greensboro, Bae was one of the team’s best players. He hit .323/.403/.430. Despite his .430 slugging, he didn’t have a single home run. Bae is your prototypical leadoff hitter. He had a .323 BA, and .403 OBP. He walked 11.3% of the time, and stole 31 bags. Bae, the 9th best 2B prospect, has been given overall average ratings for his glove and arm (50), but a 70 run grade and 55 hit tool.

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Travis Swaggerty probably also would have made the top-100, had it not been for a slow start in Bradenton. Like Hayes, the top prospect trudged through the first half of the season, hitting for a measly .221/.318/.329, before going on to hit for a robust .306/.375/.430 in the second half. The former first rounder is one of the best defensive outfield prospects, having ended 2019 with 55 grades for both his fielding and arm, and a 60 grade for his running ability.