OnlyBucs

A very low level look at the top 40 from last year. Those who have played in the big leagues only show MLB experience. Batters are avg/obp/slug,  pitchers w-l, era, GS



1. Meadows, Austin OF 22 Indy .261/.323/.384

2. Glasnow, Tyler       RSP   No longer eligible

3. Bell, Josh              1B     No longer eligible

4. Keller, Mitch        RSP 21 BRD/ALT 8-5, 3.03 23 gs

5. Newman, Kevin SS 24 Alt/Indy .267/.311/.363

6. Hayes, Ke'Bryan 3B 20 BRD  .279/.345/.363

7. Kingham, Nick RSP 25 Alt/Indy 10-6, 3.95 20 GS

8. Tucker, Cole         SS 21 BRD/ALT .275/.358/.408

9. Hearn, Taylor         P 23 Bradenton 4-6, 4.03 18 GS

10 Craig, Will         3B 22 Bradenton .271/.373/.371

11 Brault, Stephen     LSP   No longer eligible

12 Diaz, Elias             C      No longer eligible

13 Hanson, Alen        2B     Released, now with White Sox

14 Hinsz, Gage         RSP 21 Bradenton 5-5, 5.61 19 GS

15 Garcia, Yeudy RSP 25 Altoona 5-7, 5.04 31 g/11 gs

16 Santana, Edgar P 25 Indy/Bucs 19G/18 IP Bucs

17. Holmes, Clay RSP 24 Indy 10-5, 3.36 24 GS

18. Ogle, Braeden P 20 Bristol 12-3, 3.14 10 GS

19. Jhang, Jin-De C 24 Altoona .231/.280/.311

20. Escobar, Luis P 21 WVP          10-7, 3.83 25 GS

21. Williams, Trevor   RSP   No longer eligible

22. Osuna, Jose         OF    No longer eligible

23. Kranick, Max P 20 GCL/BRS 1-0, 1.11 5 gs

24. Neverauskas, Dovydas RSP 24 Bucs 24g/25.1 ip

25. Kramer, Kevin 2B 24 Altoona .288/.369/.486

26. Moroff, Max         2B 24 Bucs          122 AB

27. Barnes, Barrett OF 26 Indy         .236/.341/.340

28, Wood, Eric         3B 24 Indy   .238/.311/.438

29. Eppler, Tyler        RSP 24 Indy          8-9, 4.89 21 GS

30. MacGregor, Travis P 19 EST          1-4, 7.84 12 GS

31. Joe, Connor         IF      Traded to Braves

32. Alemais, Stephen SS 22 WV/Brad .265/.330/.390

32. Dickson, Cody LSP 25 Indy 32 6-7, 5.23 36g/12 gs

33. Waddell, Brandon P 23 Altoona 5-3, 3.12 17 GS

34. Valerio, Adrian SS 20 WV         .273/.301/.442

35. Luplow, Jordan OF 24 Alt/Indy/Bucs 78 MLB AB

36. Ngoepe, Gift IF 27 Bucs 54 MLB AB

37. Webb, Tyler          LRP   Returned to NY Yankees (Rule 5)

38. Agrazal, Dario P 22 Altoona 5-4, 2.99 14 GS

39. Mathisen, Wyatt 3B 23 Altoona .272/.357/.365

40. Reyes, Pablo 2B 24 Altoona .274/.356/.410

[reason]Needing to add  players and neaten it up[/reason]

So it doesn't really look like there's anyone who's not already in the majors who they can rely on for much next year?:



Meadows: might hit his way up at the deadline if a trade is made and he's healthy.

Keller: probably start at Indy if he has a good spring?

Newman: basically a plug-in if Mercer takes a sharp step down, or is traded.

Kingham: looking for the extra option, otherwise will start the season in the majors somewhere. Would a lousy spring let them slip him through waivers?

Holmes: I guess he's somewhere down the line of rotation depth?



Looks like we can't really expect much help, and that won't be there from the start.

A bunch of "meh" in those numbers. let's hope there's more going on behind them

Newman and Kramer should make majors this season and be regulars by 2019.



Will be interesting to see how good they are. both in field and at the plate.



The team needs to hit on at least one of them becoming an above average regular.

Looking at the pitching on that list and thinking about what is on the MLB team is interesting.  It looks like there are a ton of solid pitchers, but the elite guys aren't cutting it...and that is the problem.



At the MLB level, Cole didn't dominate this year.  Taillon took a step back (though there is certainly an asterisk there).  Glasnow can absolutely dominate AAA but can't translate it to the majors.  Keller took a bit of a step back this year, but I don't think it is anything to be concerned about.  Yeudy took a major step back.  He has looked like a guy who had dominant stuff in the minors.  This list of players is the Pirates number one problem.  They need a couple of these guys to be dominant and figure it out.  Instead, none of them did this year.



On a more positive note, the "mid tier pitchers" all had very good years.  At the MLB level, Kuhl and Williams had very solid years.  At times they both looked really effective and could show a lot of promise in the future holding down a 3.5ish ERA.  In the minors, Brault, Kingham, Ogle, and Holmes all had really solid years.  Brault had an exceptional year, really.  Each of them look like they could come up to the majors and after getting through the adjustment time, do something similar to Kuhl and Williams.



With all of that pitching, it isn't unrealistic to think that they can find 5 guys who can all put up ERAs under 4 at the MLB level.  That would be a very respectable (yet unspectacular) rotation.  You'd probably make the playoffs with that rotation if they pitched at that level.  The problem is you need more dominating pitching in the playoffs.  Look at Houston and Cleveland.



They really need at least two of Cole/Taillon/Glasnow/Keller to pan out at an elite level.



One final observation, Kuhl could transcend his category and fall into the Cole category.  He has the stuff and the mental make up.  I like him a lot.  I could see him having a fantastic year next year.

How is Nick Kingham still eligible to be on this list?



Don't you lose eligibility when you start to collect AARP benefits?

0323302D2C420 wrote: How is Nick Kingham still eligible to be on this list?



Don't you lose eligibility when you start to collect AARP benefits?


Nope, I'm 61 years old and still have my rookie status.

042223342232410 wrote: How is Nick Kingham still eligible to be on this list?



Don't you lose eligibility when you start to collect AARP benefits?


Nope, I'm 61 years old and still have my rookie status. 


That means you have a lot of years of control left.



You may just end up on NH's 25 man roster.

7F5F4C51503E0 wrote: How is Nick Kingham still eligible to be on this list?



Don't you lose eligibility when you start to collect AARP benefits?


Hey! Watch it with the "old guy" comments. That is worse than agreeing with Dog. I don't take those kinds of comments very easily. Don't do it again or I will sic Dog on you!

first baseman, Edwin Espinal with a quiet breakthrough year at 23 years old



15 hr's in less than 100 games at AA, and hit .323 in 130 AB's at Indianapolis



also gold glove for AA eastern league.



maybe some trade bait, as he is blocked by Bell?





http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?si ... g/2017/ALL