Pittsburgh Pirates tabbed with best farm system in majors
By Matt Shetler
Much has been made about Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Neal Huntington’s approach to developing home grown talent and we have started to see the results over the course of the past couple of seasons.
Apparently the rest of baseball is taking notice as well.
Jul 13, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates first round pick
Reese McGuirewatches batting practice before the game against the New York Mets at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo recently ranked the Pirates No. 1 in terms of the top farm systems in all of baseball. Fellow MLB writer Jim Callis ranked the Houston Astros No.1 but theses rankings further prove the point that the future of Pirates baseball is indeed a bright one.
The Pirates current roster consisted of eight homegrown players. Players such as Andrew McCutchen, Neil Walker and Starling Marte came before Huntington, but his fingerprints were all over this team from Pedro Alvarez to Gerrit Cole and everyone in between.
However this isn’t about the present, it is also about the future.
Mayo notes that with the likes of No. 1 prospect Jameson Taillon and the likes of Gregory Polanco and Alan Hanson due up soon that the Bucs future success is expected to be more home grown.
Those three highly though of prospect make MLB’s Overall 100, but that’s not it. First-round outfielder Austin Meadows, Mexican lefty Luis Heredia and right-hander Tyler Glasnow are all highly touted prospects, giving the Pirates six players in the Top 100. Throw in outfielder Josh Bell and catcher Reese McGuire, who are both expected to crack the Top 100 soon and the Bucs could have a ridiculous eight prospects crack the Top 100 next season.
It may have taken a bit longer than Huntington may have liked, but the Bucs system is loaded with both depth and talent. The good part is that there is a lot to like about prospects 11-20 in the system as well and not just the Top 10. That likely means that there will be no drop-off in talent after the first six or seven reach the majors.
Mayo also speaks to the depth in the organization by noting that both Andrew Lambo and Brandon Cumpton made their MLB debuts this season and neither was among the Pirates Top 20 prospects.
That alone speaks volumes about the depth of the farm system.
The Pirates posted a winning season for the first time in 20 years in 2013. By the looks of their farm system, winning is something that should continue in the city of Pittsburgh.