In the midst of Neal Huntington burning down the house that we call the Pittsburgh Pirates he has been getting some very intriguing prospects in return. So in case you were too busy crying over spilled milk while your favorite Pirates have been getting dealt; our GM has been out quickly making the Pirates one of the best farm systems around.
Now despite the recent trades and multiple guys hitting their stride in Altoona and Indianapolis, the Low A team in West Virginia really catches my eye. Right now West Virginia is home to some of the Pirates very top prospects who are playing in mainly their first or second season in professional baseball. A short list of these players include this years first round draft choice, C Tony Sanchez, power hitting first baseman Calvin Anderson, OF Robbie Grossman, and Latin American signee Starling Marte.
Tony Sanchez
Particularly impressive, Sanchez ripped through the short season league playing for the State College Spikes. Sanchez' play was good enough to earn him a promotion to play at Low A West Virginia for the remainder of the season. At State College, he hit .308. Now with West Virginia Sanchez has been hitting .346 with 2 home runs and 20 RBIs in just 20 games played. In a frame of 6'0 220lbs Sanchez seems like a great prospect for the Buccos behind the plate.
Calvin Anderson
Now lets talk power. Lets talk first base. Lets talk about Calvin Anderson! A truly amazing physical specimen. Anderson stands at 6'7 240lbs. With this frame he makes a great target over at first base. Anderson was one of the hidden gems in GM Neal Huntington's and farm director Kyle Stark's great 2008 draft class. Anderson was taken in the 12th round out of Southern University. Anderson has played all of this season at Low-A West Virginia. For the Power he has hit .274, with 9 home runs and 53 RBIs. The big fella can also run a little as he has legged out three triples this season. Anderson seems like a very raw but promising prospect. A prospect that I am particularly high on. I believe that a big first baseman who can hit for power is something this team really needs. I feel that Calvin Anderson might be a good contributor to the big league club down the road.
Robbie Grossman
The best word that you can use to describe Pirates OF prospect Robbie Grossman is a steal. The Pirates grabbed Grossman in the 6th round of the 2008 MLB draft out of Cypress HS in Texas. Grossman's stock in the draft dropped due to the fact that he had already committed to the University of Texas. The Pirates took the risk and paid him overslot for where he was drafted. Some experts have Grossman listed as the 6th best prospect in the Pirates system. The switch hitting Grossman has good size at 6'1 190lbs and has exceptional speed. He has swiped 30 bags on 38 attempts this season for West Virginia. In 87 games this season Grossman has hit for a solid .271 average with 4 home runs, 35 RBIs, and 16 doubles. Grossman who is another one of my favorite prospects is expected to arrive at PNC Park in 2012. For a 19 just a year out of high school I think that would be something very special.
Someone who has flown pretty much under the radar, Marte was signed as an international free agent in 2007 as an 18 year old. The Dominican Republic native is said to be a five tool player with spectacular speed and a lot of pop in his bat. In 65 games last year for the Dominican Summer League Pirates, Marte hit .296 with 9 home runs, 44 RBIs, and 20 stolen bases. He has potential to be a 20+ home run hitter at the big league level. Despite all of his offensive capabilities it his spectacular play in the field that has opened many eyes. After about two weeks of playing for the Power, manager Gary Green estimated that Marte had already made about 10 amazing plays in the field. Green and many others say that Marte is already major league ready defensively. To give an example of the speed that Marte posses listen to this: In a game this year with the Power he had both an infield single and a bunt single in the same game. So far this season in West Virginia, Marte has been tearing up the South Atlantic League pitching through his first 28 games, as he is hitting a whopping .345 with 2 home runs, 19 RBIs, and 16 Stolen Bases.
Other West Virginia Power notable prospects:
-P Quinton Miller
-P Diego Moreno
-P Hunter Strickland
It's certainly refreshing to see that the Pirates are becoming an organization plentiful with prospects. And to have someone in your system who was signed as an international free agent as a teenager is a kudos to Latin America director of scouting Rene Gayo. If GM Neal Huntington and farm director Kyle Stark keep up this work, we will really have something to cheer about in a few years at PNC Park. My next "Update from the Farm" will be about some of the top prospects in High-A Lynchburg.
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