MLB Top 100 Prospects: Pittsburgh Pirates well represented in latest rankings
By Matt Shetler
You know that baseball season is getting closer when MLB.com releases their Top 100 prospects list, which they did Tuesday night.
Of the MLB Top 100 Prospects, the Pittsburgh Pirates were well represented, with four of the top 65 overall, giving even more hope for Pirates’ fans for the future.
July 8, 2012; Kansas City, MO, USA; USA pitcher Jameson Taillon throws a pitch during the 2012 All Star Futures Game at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
The Pirates ranked sixth out of the 30 teams in the MLB teams, which were ranked by how many prospects they have and where they were listed. Also factored into the rankings were things how close they are to entering the league and how much upside they have.
The Bucs were led by right-hander Gerrit Cole, who clocked in at No. 9 overall.
Some feel that the talented No. 1 overall pick will force his way to Pittsburgh this season after going 5-1 with a 2.55 ERA in Class A, 3-6 with a 2.90 ERA in Double-A, and 1-0 in six scoreless innings in his only start in Triple-A.
Jameson Taillon, the other highly touted Pirates pitching prospect, wasn’t far behind Cole as he checked in at No. 15.
Taillon had some bumps in the road early on last season but rebounded nicely and finished the season strong, including winning all three of his starts at Double-A.
Next on the list was shortstop Alen Hanson, who was ranked No. 54 overall.
The shortstop busted onto the scene last season by hitting .309 with 62 extra-base hits with Class A West Virginia. By doing so, he has become one of the top shortstop prospects in all of baseball.
Finally, Hanson’s teammate last season, outfielder Gregory Polanco came in at No. 65 after hitting 325 with 16 home runs and 40 stolen bases last season.
Shortstop Jurickson Profar of the Texas Rangers ranked No. 1 overall.
The rest of the Top 10 looked like this:
2 – Dylan Bundy, RHP (BAL)
3 – Oscar Taveras, OF (STL)
4 – Wil Myers, OF (TB)
5 – Taijuan Walker, RHP (SEA)
6 – Travis d’Arnaud, C (NYM)
7 – Jose Fernandez, RHP (MIA)
8 – Zack Wheeler, RHP (NYM)
9 – Gerrit Cole, RHP (PIT)
10 – Tyler Skaggs, LHP (ARI)
One other prospect of note, Miguel Sano, who the Pirates were close to signing before allowing him to sign with the Minnesota Twins, was ranked at No. 12.