Pittsburgh Pirates 2013 Prospect Watch: Ranks 1-5 - KHarmo88's Dynasty

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Pittsburgh Pirates 2013 Prospect Watch: Ranks 1-5

Posted on March 15, 2013 at 08:38 PM.

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Rank 1: Gerrit Cole

Pitchers who are No. 1 overall picks are supposed to have front-line starter potential, and Cole definitely has that. The UCLA product is big and strong with the frame to be a power pitcher who tops a rotation. His fastball is plus plus, up to 98 mph with ease, with a ton of life. Cole's slider is also a plus, a hard breaking ball that gets swings and misses. His curve and changeup, also thrown hard, aren't quite as good as the fastball-slider combination, but both might be above-average pitches. The only time he gets in trouble is when he leaves pitches up in the zone a bit, but he has the weapons to escape trouble. Cole reached Triple-A in his first full season of pro ball and seeing him in Pittsburgh in 2013 seems completely reasonable to expect.

ETA: 2013

Rank 2: Jameson Taillon

Rank 3: Alen Hanson

Hanson had put up solid numbers in rookie ball, then surprised some when he made the full-season West Virginia Power out of Spring Training in 2012. All he did there was lead the circuit in total bases while finishing in the top 10 in a host of offensive categories. Hanson makes consistent contact and can drive the ball to all fields and will use an inside-out swing as well. An outstanding bunter, he also has the strength to show occasional home run power. He has very good speed and is still learning how to use it to his benefit on the basepaths. Defensively, he has the range and the hands to stay at shortstop, but his arm has been erratic. Hanson will stay at shortstop for now, and more people believe he can stay there than they did before his full-season debut, but some feel he'll eventually move over to second base.

ETA: 2015

Rank 4: Gregory Polanco

There were few prospects in all of the Minor Leagues who broke out more than Polanco did in 2012. The speedy center fielder topped the system in stolen bases and finished second in a host of other offensive categories. He has the chance to be a true five-tooler on the field. With a long, lean frame, he�s an aggressive swinger who started to learn the values of plate discipline, making him a much more dangerous hitter. He should hit for average and at least a little power. His plus speed will make him a long-term basestealing threat and an outstanding defensive outfielder.

ETA: 2015

Rank 5: Luis Heredia

Since signing out of Mexico, Heredia has been challenged with assignments that put him way ahead of the curve. In 2012, he was the youngest pitcher in the New York-Penn League and more than held his own. Pitching downhill from his 6-foot-6 frame, Heredia's fastball touches 95 mph and should be a consistently plus pitch. His secondary stuff has the chance to be plus as well, from his hard curve to his changeup. Heredia has a better feel for pitching than most teenagers and he gets high marks for his makekup and mound presence. The combination of size, stuff, pitchability and work ethic all point to the potential as a front-line starter.

ETA: 2015