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| | Wednesday, April 19 Pirates minor-league report | |||||
| By John Sickels Special to ESPN.com System overview Given their recent history of investment in older players like Ed Sprague, Pat Meares and Mike Benjamin, one would think that the Pirates farm system is completely devoid of talent, and that they have no choice but to acquire proven mediocrities to stock the roster. This is not the case. While the Pittsburgh organization doesn't rank with the elite in the game, the Pirates do have some interesting players on the way up, should they care to give them a chance. The Pirates are one of the most "tool"-oriented organizations in the game today, usually focusing on athletic ability rather than baseball skill. This works sometimes, but the Pirates tend to overestimate the talents of players like Jose Guillen and Abraham Nunez. On the other hand, the system also has broad-based players like Chad Hermansen available, as well as an awesome hitter in Aramis Ramirez, if they will ever let him play. The fact that the Pirates let Warren Morris play last year is a good sign: he isn't toolsy, but proved he could produce on the field. Kris Benson was another feather in the farm system cap. The Latin American program has been revived over the last two years, and the early returns on the 1999 draft look decent. 1999 Minor League W-L Percentage: .487 (ranked 19th) 1999 amateur draft The Pirates selected an intriguing mix of talent in 1999, beginning with first-round pick Bobby Bradley, a high school pitcher from Florida. Bradley mixes a 90-mph fastball with a terrific curve, throwing both pitches for strikes and demonstrating excellent command. He is very polished, and less risky than most high school pitchers. Second-rounder Ryan Doumit, from Moses Lake, Washington, is a high school catcher with outstanding defensive skills. His bat is less refined, but not without hope. Third-round pick Aron Weston, a high school outfielder from Ohio, draws comparisons to Darryl Strawberry, but is extremely raw. After this group of high schoolers, the Pirates moved to the college ranks, selecting UC Davis product Justin Reid, a pitcher with a 92-mph fastball, in the fourth round. Sixth-rounder B.J. Barnes, an outfielder from Duquesne, hit very well with the wooden bat, and should advance quickly. Barnes and Bradley are the most advanced players in the group. This draft class has a high ceiling, but could fall apart if Doumit and Weston don't pan out as expected. Top prospects 1) Chad Hermansen, OF: He has nothing left to prove in Triple-A, where he hit 32 home runs last. Should hit 20 homers, steal 20 bases a year in the majors, but could hit anywhere from .230 to .290 due to erratic strike zone judgment. 2) J.J. Davis, OF: Compared to Dave Winfield for his enormous power and strong throwing arm. Making strides with the strike zone, but still has work to do. 3) Luis Torres, RHP: Timed as high as 98 mph. Needs a better breaking pitch, and might end up as a closer. Posted 1.69 ERA in rookie ball. 4) Rico Washington, C-3B: Classy left-handed hitter, should post .300 averages and high on-base percentages all the way up the ladder. Glove is questionable. 5) Antonio Alvarez, 3B: Hit .321 with 38 steals in the New York-Penn League, and should develop power as well. Others of note Jimmy Anderson, LHP: Turned his career around after two years of struggles at Triple-A. Decent fastball, good breaking pitch, should be a solid reliever. Bronson Arroyo, RHP: Throws strikes, went 15-4 in Double-A. K/BB ratio was just 100/58, and he was pounded in Triple-A. Kevin Haverbusch, 3B: Hard-nosed infielder, hits for average with gap power. Poor strike zone judgment is a problem. Humberto Cota, C: Acquired from Tampa for Jose Guillen. Has power potential, defensive skills are good. Eddy Furniss, 1B: Former LSU star hit well in the Carolina League, but will have to prove himself in Double-A. I think he will. Other names to know: Paul Ah Yat, LHP; John Grabow, LHP; Alex Hernandez, OF; Jay Hobbs, OF; Clint Johnston, LHP; Derrick Lankford, OF; Garrett Long, OF; Sam McConnell, LHP; Brian O'Connor, LHP; Tike Redman, OF; Carlos Rivera, 1B; Jovanny Sosa, OF. John Sickels is the author of the 2000 STATS Minor League Scouting Notebook. You can email your questions to him at JASickels@AOL.com. | ALSO SEE Hot Stove Heaters: Pirates ESPN.com's Hot Stove Heaters  | |||||