Comments on: Pittsburgh Pirates 2013 Top Prospects: #12 – Dilson Herrera

By: Tim Williams

Tim Williams — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 15:46:41 +0000

I think there’s a good reason Herrera was on the radar before Hanson and Polanco. Herrera received a $220 K bonus. Hanson ($150 K) and Polanco ($75 K) were both un-reported when they signed. Herrera was the second biggest signing by the Pirates in his year. So if there has been an earlier bandwagon for him, it’s probably for that reason.

By: Steve Zielinski

Steve Zielinski — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 15:46:04 +0000

Hanson definitely slumped in the second half of his 2011 season. He also slumped in the second half of his 2012 season. Let us see if he’s consistent throughout the 2013 season.

By: Steve Zielinski

Steve Zielinski — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 15:43:25 +0000

You rightly identified Hanson and Polanco as breakout candidates during spring training last year. That said, the Herrera bandwagon formed early, long before 2013 spring training. If the Pirates send Herrera to State…er…Jamestown or if he struggles at all or fails to have a campaign comparable to Hanson and Polanco’s 2012 seasons, it will appear to the fans and to professional observers that Herrera is not as talented as they thought. Breakout seasons ought to be a bit surprising, I think. If so, then Herrera may have had his breakout season in the GCL, when he was a comparatively unknown and un-hyped prospect who performed rather well.

By: Happydude1

Happydude1 — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 15:39:31 +0000

Hanson mashed the first half of the year as an 18 yr old in the GCL, so he had a bit of a track record that had some people excited.

By: Tim Williams

Tim Williams — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 15:27:50 +0000

“No one expected Hanson and Polanco to have the seasons they had.”

Depends on the timing. I talked to a few people last year who had Hanson as a potential breakout candidate. I had both as breakout candidates in Spring Training last year.

I think Herrera is closer to Hanson. Espinal would be closer to Polanco. He’s got a lot of raw ability, but it hasn’t translated to the field yet.

By: elgaupo

elgaupo — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 15:15:25 +0000

Tim had him at #15 before the Winter League All-Star game.

By: Steve Zielinski

Steve Zielinski — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 15:11:54 +0000

Hmmm, observers expect Herrara to have a break out season at WV. No one expected Hanson and Polanco to have the seasons they had. So, Herrara is a bit different than those two. Edwin Espinal is a closer match to Hanson and Polanco. Like them, he’s an interesting player who struggled some in the GCL. Of course, no one expects Espinal to win a stolen base title or to vie for a Gold Glove at a high-value defensive position!