who is the #5 prospect for 2018

[psuinpgh21]

A majority rule for #4, who will be #5? Added Craig by request. The most votes so far in round 4, so picking up steam. Who's in the next poll? A player on the 40 man roster? A high draft pick from last year? An up-and-coming minor leaguer?



Previous results:



1. Mitch Keller, 21, SP, AA (88% of the vote)

2. Austin Meadows, 22, OF, AAA (also 88% of the vote)

3. Shane Baz, 18, SP, Rookie league (34.1%)

4. Cole Tucker, 21, SS, AA (53.7%)

[psuinpgh21]

Someone must have been waiting, their vote got in before mine!

[OrlandoMerced]

To me, the top four guys that have been ranked are in a tier, and the rest of the group is indistinguishable.

[Ecbucs]

6E534D404F454E6C4453424445210 wrote: To me, the top four guys that have been ranked are in a tier, and the rest of the group is indistinguishable.


I agree with this. If Taylor Hearn had pitched more innings I would have considered him for 4 instead of Hayes. Seems like he has one of best arms in system if he can stay healthy.

[dmetz]

Hard to imagine our system is so shallow that a kid who can't hit the ball out of the infield in the low minors is going to be #5



Sad state if affairs. We need these hitters to take big steps and take them immediately.

[dogknot17@yahoo.co]

I've been picking Hearn since #3. He will get his chances being a hard throwing lefty. I hope he can stay as a Starter. If not, he is almost certain to be in the bullpen eventually.

[OrlandoMerced]

I don't think my comment was meant to indicate that the system is bad, just that I'm not capable of ranking these players. We aren't scouts here, there are guys like Moroff, Luplow and Kramer that all had success at the upper levels, upside pitching prospects like Hearns and Escobar that would be on track for MLB roles if they progress. There's Ogle, McGregor and Kranick, 2016 draft picks that were mostly ignored in 2017, and we've seen that their prep draft picks tend to break out in their second full pro season (thinking Glasnow and Keller). There's the recent high draft picks, Newman, Craig and Hayes, all guys that seem to lack power at this time, but all seem to have some skills that could play at the ML level. And then of course there's the GCL group from last year (Mitchell, Uselton, Sanchez, Castro and Martin), they are all major breakout candidates this year in WV.

[dogknot17@yahoo.co]

4A7769646B616A486077666061050 wrote: I don't think my comment was meant to indicate that the system is bad, just that I'm not capable of ranking these players. We aren't scouts here, there are guys like Moroff, Luplow and Kramer that all had success at the upper levels, upside pitching prospects like Hearns and Escobar that would be on track for MLB roles if they progress. There's Ogle, McGregor and Kranick, 2016 draft picks that were mostly ignored in 2017, and we've seen that their prep draft picks tend to break out in their second full pro season (thinking Glasnow and Keller). There's the recent high draft picks, Newman, Craig and Hayes, all guys that seem to lack power at this time, but all seem to have some skills that could play at the ML level. And then of course there's the GCL group from last year (Mitchell, Uselton, Sanchez, Castro and Martin), they are all major breakout candidates this year in WV.


We don't have those super star bats in the system, in my opinion. Meadows maybe, but he hasn't been tearing it up like expected (I am high on him). I said this back in June 2017 about our lack of impact rookies. Can't be missing on these first round picks. Guys like Moroff are fine players, but are they really full of impact?

[SammyKhalifa]

49424A464342591C1A6D544C454242034E422D0 wrote: I don't think my comment was meant to indicate that the system is bad, just that I'm not capable of ranking these players. We aren't scouts here, there are guys like Moroff, Luplow and Kramer that all had success at the upper levels, upside pitching prospects like Hearns and Escobar that would be on track for MLB roles if they progress. There's Ogle, McGregor and Kranick, 2016 draft picks that were mostly ignored in 2017, and we've seen that their prep draft picks tend to break out in their second full pro season (thinking Glasnow and Keller). There's the recent high draft picks, Newman, Craig and Hayes, all guys that seem to lack power at this time, but all seem to have some skills that could play at the ML level. And then of course there's the GCL group from last year (Mitchell, Uselton, Sanchez, Castro and Martin), they are all major breakout candidates this year in WV.


We don't have those super star bats in the system, in my opinion.  Meadows maybe, but he hasn't been tearing it up like expected (I am high on him).  I said this back in June 2017 about our lack of impact rookies.  Can't be missing on these first round picks.  Guys like Moroff are fine players, but are they really full of impact?




"They" say we have some pieces far down in the system. But as we all know a lot can happen between now and then.

[dogknot17@yahoo.co]

This is also why the draft is said to be a crap shoot. At the time, the players the Pirates selected were not stretches. They fell in place and were legit first rounders according to the experts.



Appel, Meadows, McGuire, Tucker, Hayes, Newman, and Craig should at least be on the radar and not be question marks. Other teams are having guys make it or progress through their system. We are hearing how guys are falling.



Meadows is the only player drafted in the first round since Cole was drafted to still have that hype. Meadows is entering his sixth season in the minors. About 10 teams have had their 2013 pick make it up. One even won an MVP.



The Pirates need that real, impact rookie to emerge. Someone you look at and think you can build a team around. Someone the fans want brought up early to help now. Someone the fans been waiting to arrive. That hype hasn't happened since McCutchen, Cole, Marte (not drafted), and a maybe Taillon.