Who is the #4 prospect for 2018

[Ecbucs]

132E303D32383311392E3F39385C0 wrote: I think it's important to note that developmentally in the FSL, the Pirates have their hitters focus on hitting off speed stuff. This factoid, observation was made by P2 I think before last offseason. To me that means they would be sitting on the offspeed pitch in most situations, and seeking to go the other way with the fastball. That naturally leads to a depressed SLG%. 



I think seeing what Kramer and Luplow did upon moving to Altoona has made that note sink into my brain. Basically all negative reports I've read on Craig evolve around his lack of power and approach at the plate. Until proven otherwise, I'm ignoring SLG% in FSL and looking more at average, OBP and K:BB ratios. All areas that Craig excelled at. But, being relegated to 1B, he will need to replicate Kramer/Luplow/Meadows numbers at AA to be considered in the top tier of prospects for this team.
that may be true about Bradenton. However, one of the writers (maybe former) WTM who writes a lot for Bucs Dugout is concerned about Craig and points out that it is pretty unusual for someone drafted from college in first round to drop as much in prospect rankings as he has (or is this off season). That started a thread of comments that included these:



[highlight]He currently profiles as a Freese-ish hitter without his adequate D (although he has a good arm). He slugged .371 at Bradenton (A+), and he fielded a putrid .889 at 3B in ‘16. Thus, prompting the move to 1B. He won’t hit well enough for 1B, 3B, or DH.



With Bell entrenched at 1B, there’s really no use for Craig, even as a backup. Better off to use him as part of a trade.[/highlight]



To play devil’s advocate, the FSL is a terrible league for power.



T[highlight]hat said, I don’t know that Craig is ever going to have much more than keep-them-honest pop, which doesn’t make him a starting-caliber 1B, and life is hard out there for a RH 1B-only player with a non-elite bat.[/highlight]



[highlight]Most of that team had higher ISOs than Craig. Org. UT guy Logan Ratledge included.[/highlight]



[highlight]Yeah, he’s still not hitting anything close to what he needs to hit in order to stay on the prospect track. Just figured it was worth mentioning that the problem probably isn’t quite as dire as the raw batting line makes it look.



Still pretty rough, though[/highlight].



[highlight]All the prospect lists are putting him in the teens somewhere in the system, which isn’t so good for a guy drafted in the first round a year and a half ago. The standard explanation is, We just can’t think of anything good to say about him but he was a first round draft pick a year and a half ago[/highlight]