There are two types of lists that usually come out this time of year. The prospect lists focus on the future and the upside of each player. Then there’s the lists that focus only on the impact prospects can make in the upcoming season. Baseball America released one of those lists today, looking at the top 20 rookies for the 2013 season. The list is ranked based on the impact the player could have in 2013, and not based on prospect status.
Gerrit Cole was the only Pirate on the list, coming in at number 14. Their best case scenario has Cole handling Triple-A with ease, and arriving in the majors by mid-season. Their worst case is that Cole continues to be more hittable than his stuff suggests, and his mistakes get hammered by big league hitters.