Baseball America released their Top 100 Prospects today for the 2009 season. The list is determined by votes of six people at Baseball America. The Pirates prospects, and their Estimated Time Arrival to the majors (according to BA) are as follows:
12. Pedro Alvarez
Estimated Time Arrival: 2009
33. Andrew McCutchen
Estimated Time Arrival: 2009
75. Jose Tabata
Estimated Time Arrival: 2010
The usual suspects. I guess the only thing that might be surprising is Alvarez in the majors this year. I can see him getting a September callup if he moves through the system fast enough.
For McCutchen, I think June is the latest we will see him in the majors.
I agree with the 2010 forecast for Tabata. He will most likely start the year at AA, move to AAA when McCutchen is called up, and will probably take the same path as McCutchen next season, spending time at AAA to start the year before getting called up (after his arbitration clock is delayed).
