Jeff Locke is the Pirates Prospects 2012 Minor League Pitcher of the Year.

In previous years it wasn’t difficult to pick the Pitcher of the Year in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ minor league system. Kyle McPherson was clearly the winner last year, posting a 2.96 ERA and a 142:27 K/BB ratio in 161 innings. Rudy Owens ran away with it in 2010, posting a 2.46 ERA in 150 innings at the Double-A level, with a 132:23 K/BB ratio. This year there was a little more competition, which led to a tougher decision.

The group this year was led by three starting pitchers who all posted good strikeout numbers, and ERAs under 3.00. Those three starters were Gerrit Cole, Phil Irwin, and Jeff Locke. Vic Black also gained some consideration for his work out of the bullpen in Altoona, although the starters had more of an advantage since they posted their numbers while having more than twice the innings Black had. Luis Heredia, Clay Holmes, and Tyler Glasnow all had great numbers in the lower levels, but the fact that they were pitching in the lower levels, plus their lack of innings, eliminated them from consideration. It came down to Cole, Irwin, and Locke, and the winner of the Pirates Prospects 2012 Minor League Pitcher of the Year award goes to Jeff Locke.

Locke made 24 starts in Triple-A, putting up a 2.48 ERA in 141.2 innings. He had an 8.3 K/9, a 2.7 BB/9, and a 0.6 HR/9 ratio in those innings. Locke gained points over Cole and Irwin since all of his innings came in the upper levels of the minors. Cole spent some time in high-A, and Irwin spent most of his time in Double-A. The numbers from Locke were more than deserving on their own. His 2.48 ERA was the best mark of all pitchers in the minor league system with 80 or more innings. He finished with the third most strikeouts in the system, behind Justin Wilson and Cole. He moved on to the majors, where he put up a 5.50 ERA in 34.1 innings, although his time in the majors didn’t factor into this award. His FIP of 3.24 in Triple-A was higher than his ERA, which is what brought him closer to Cole and Irwin. However, Irwin also had a higher FIP in Double-A, and Cole spending half the season in high-A hurt the value of his ERA and FIP.

Cole showed why he was the top prospect in the system this year, putting up a combined 2.80 ERA in 132 innings between the top three levels. He had a 136:45 K/BB ratio, with his strikeouts rating second in the system. The right-hander had a 2.69 ERA in 67 innings in high-A, then moved up to Double-A where he posted a 2.90 ERA in 59 innings. Cole made one regular season start in Triple-A, giving up three runs in six innings. Prospect-wise, there’s nothing wrong with Cole’s path this year. For the purposes of this award, he loses points simply because he was pitching at a lower level, and there was a guy in the upper levels with better numbers.

For the second year in a row, Phil Irwin was a darkhorse candidate. Irwin is rarely talked about among the top prospects in the system, but his numbers have ranked at the top for the last two years. Last year he was the only pitcher with comparable numbers to McPherson, but McPherson had better numbers in Double-A to give him an edge. This year he had comparable numbers to Cole, posting a 2.83 ERA in 130.1 innings, along with a 117:24 K/BB ratio. Irwin’s 1.7 BB/9 ratio was the second lowest among starters in the system, falling behind Kyle McPherson’s 1.2 BB/9. The right-hander spent most of his time in Double-A, where he had a 2.93 ERA in 104.1 innings. Irwin moved up to Triple-A for a few starts, posting a 2.57 ERA in 21 innings, along with an impressive 28:7 K/BB ratio. He fell behind Locke due to pitching most of the year in Double-A, and because of his 3.40 FIP at the lower level. His FIP in Triple-A was 2.30, which was lower than his ERA. Had he spent more time in Triple-A with those numbers, he could have won the award.

Gregory Polanco is the Pirates Prospects 2012 Minor League Player of the Year.

Last year there was a pretty close race between two players in the system for our 2011 Minor League Player of the Year. Starling Marte and Robbie Grossman both had similar results, and the edge went to Marte as he played at a higher level. This year there was another close race, only the two players played at the same level, on the same team. Gregory Polanco and Alen Hanson were the biggest breakout players in the system, and two of the biggest breakout players in all of minor league baseball. Their numbers at the end of the year were very close, to the point where the race could be called a tie. Breaking down the two players, one of them edged out the other. Gregory Polanco was that player, and is the Pirates Prospects 2012 Minor League Player of the Year.

Polanco finished the 2012 season with a .325/.388/.522 line in 437 at-bats. Hanson had a .309/.381/.528 line in 489 at-bats. Both finished with 16 homers. Hanson had a higher slugging percentage, Polanco had a higher on-base percentage, and Polanco edged out Hanson in OPS by one point.

Looking at the advanced numbers, Polanco also had the edge. According to FanGraphs, Polanco’s wOBA was .408 compared to Hanson’s .405. The wRC+ numbers were 148-146 in favor of Polanco.

Defensively the results weren’t close. Polanco was much better at his defensive position in center field this year than Hanson was at shortstop. Polanco also gained points for his consistency. The outfielder had an OPS of .838 in April, .802 in May, .868 in June, 1.051 in July, and .900 in August. Hanson got off to a monster start in April, with a 1.129 OPS. His OPS in May was .859 and .936 in June. He slumped in July with a .752 OPS, but rebounded with an .898 OPS in August. Hanson only had one off-month, which isn’t a big deal. The fact that Polanco was over .800 each month, and improved in the final two months, gave him another edge.

It was close between the two players, but Polanco had the edge in several areas. Going forward, both are top prospects and potential impact players. They both currently play premium defensive positions, and both could remain at those positions, although there’s more of a chance of Polanco sticking in center than Hanson sticking at shortstop. They’re also both young enough that they’re not finished developing. Polanco added some power this year after adding some muscle to his tall, lean frame over the off-season. He could still add more power going forward. The same could be said for Hanson, who went from four homers in 442 at-bats in 2010-11 to 16 homers in 489 at-bats this year. Going forward, the two should continue to compete as the best position players in the system as they work their way up the levels to the majors.

The Hitters

The Pitchers

10 Prospects to Watch

Unlike the other teams in the system, it is much harder to put together a top ten prospect list for the Dominican Summer League. There is very little to go on besides the season stats, signing information and scouting reports that are few and far between. You base a lot on performance, where the players actually played on the field, and the player’s age, both at the present time and when they signed. For the most part, if a kid signs at age 19 or later, he isn’t a prospect. If he is playing shortstop or center field at 17-18 years old, that is usually a good sign.

The list below is by no means a top ten list, it is ten players who I think have the best chance at going far in the system. For that reason, you won’t see players like Luis Santos, Ulises Montilla or Christopher DeLeon, who put up strong numbers, but they were on the old side. A common occurrence in this league among pitchers is an older player dominating with good off-speed stuff, but without the fastball to advance far. There are other players not on this list, such as Luis Rico ($280,000) and Yunior Aquiles, that signed six figure bonuses, and they are still young, but the results are not there. Then you have Mervin Del Rosario, older player, high bonus, throws 93 MPH, but results were just okay with low strikeout numbers.

Ten Prospects to Watch

1. Julio De La Cruz –  He was the Pirates main target during this season’s July 2nd signing period. He signed for $700,000 as soon as the signings started. De La Cruz is just 16 years old and described as an athletic third baseman, who makes good contact with average power. At 6′ 1″ 190lbs, he has room to grow and add power. They see him sticking at third base due to his athleticism and strong arm. He could open next season in the GCL if the last two years are any indication. Pirates top three signings from 2010-11 — Luis Heredia, Elvis Escobar and Harold Ramirez — all skipped the DSL.

2. Michael De La Cruz – Within a week or signing Julio, the Pirates signed another De La Cruz (no relation) to the same $700,000 bonus. This one is a 16-year-old outfielder with five tool potential. Michael is already good size at 6′ 0″ 175lbs and has above average speed, with strong defense at a young age, that has room to improve. He is a lefty line drive hitter that they think could hit twenty homers in a season. He is another possibility of skipping to the GCL.

3. Maximo Rivera – In 2009, Rivera signed for $165,000, the second highest bonus behind Jose Ozuna, who was with West Virginia this year making a name for himself. Rivera was a shortstop when signed, described as having a possible 40 home run potential. In 2010, he showed none of that, and then the beginning of 2011 was more of the same. During the second half of last year, something clicked and he began to hit for power. This season, the power almost disappeared, in fact it did during the second half. Despite that power loss, he still put up great numbers this season, hitting .367 with a .902 OPS and a surprising 34 stolen bases. He should go to the GCL next year as a twenty year old and will likely play a corner position, infield or outfield. If he can regain power, combined with his high average and speed, he could be one to really watch next season.

4. Yoel Gonzalez – This list is top heavy with new signings, partially due to the fact the top signings recently have skipped right over the DSL. Gonzalez signed for $350,000 on his sixteenth birthday, just over a month ago. He is described already as a mature catcher, with quickness behind the plate, good fundamentals, good size and a strong arm with clean action. His hitting isn’t as advanced yet, but he uses the whole field and has room to add power.

5. Richard Mitchell –  Mitchell signed last year, on his sixteenth birthday, for $170,000. Prior to signing, he was already hitting 91 MPH. He was described as raw with his breaking pitches, so going into the year there wasn’t high expectations for him. The 6′ 2″ 185lb righty, ended up making 14 appearances with mixed results. The amount of action he saw was a good sign and the stats he put up were very similar to what Luis Heredia did at the same age last year in the GCL. He should return to the DSL as he looks to work on his secondary pitches.

6.  Danny Arribas –  Arribas signed for $110,000 in 2011. He was born in the U.S., grew up playing in the Netherlands and went to the DSL last year to play. His first season did not go well, hitting just .200 in 48 games. He is a versatile player, who can catch, play third base or first base. Arribas returned to the DSL this season and  started off very slow, then went on a tear once July started. He finished the season batting .308 with 15 doubles, playing more games and getting more plate appearances than any other DSL Pirates player. He should see plenty of time in the GCL next year.

7. Oderman Rocha – Based on performance alone, he would’ve been ranked second only to Rivera. Rocha is a 19-year-old, 6′ 3″ righty, who did everything you could ask for from a pitcher. He had a huge groundball rate (2.54), kept the ball in the ballpark (one homer in three years), throws strikes and can put away batters when he isn’t getting them to ground out. His drawback is an odd one on the surface, he did all the same things last year as well, but wasn’t moved up to the GCL. That could mean that he is one of those pitchers with the excellent breaking stuff, because you usually wouldn’t hold back a second year pitcher, that put in a lot of work (54.2 IP) and had terrific results. I expect him to move to the GCL next year and from there we will get a better idea whether he is legit.

8. Leandro Rodriguez- In his first season after signing last year out of the Dominican Prospect League for $80,000, Rodriguez showed good/solid numbers across the board. He was dominating in July, then didn’t pitch for two weeks, before finishing the season as a reliever, so a slight injury may have derailed him at his peak. He had a decent groundball rate, showed excellent control and was tough to hit, with a .227 BAA.  Rodriguez is a 19-year-old 6′ 3″ RHP.

9.Pablo Reyes – Reyes was an unknown going into this season, but he definitely put himself on the map with a solid all-around season. As mentioned above, it is a good sign when an 18-year-old plays shortstop all the time and along with the higher bonus player, Carlos Ozuna, they were the two main shortstops in the DSL for the Pirates. Reyes was not only the better fielder of the two, he was also a better hitter and was better on the bases. Reyes had just 12 strikeouts all year, with 23 walks and he went 18-for-25 in stolen bases attempts. He hit 18 doubles, a sign of power potential in the DSL and his fielding percentage was 23 points high than Ozuna, who just missed this list. The two players are similar size and Reyes is two months younger. It is possible Ozuna may be the better of the two players in the long run, but Reyes got the best of him this year.

10. Adrian De Aza – He didn’t get on here due to his stats, he is rated in the top ten players to watch due to his scouting report, which labeled him as an athletic five tool outfielder, which two plus tools, throwing arm and speed. De Aza played in the Dominican Prospect League prior to signing for $150,000 in July of 2010. He hit .240 this year with 15 extra base hits, finishing the season strong. His other numbers were not good, just four steals in eight attempts and he played right field most of the season, with more errors than assists. He will be twenty next season, so it is possible he could move up to the GCL.

Ten Others to Watch

(Listed alphabetically, with position/current age): Gustavo Barrios,2B/18, Omar Basulto, P/19, Adrian Grullon,P/20, Christian Henriquez, P/20, Johan Herrera, 3B/17, Carlos Munoz, 1B/18, Carlos Ozuna, SS/19, Jesus Paredes, P/19 Cesilio Pimentel, P/19, Tito Polo, OF/18, Julio Vivas, P/18

Below are the stats from each pitcher in the DSL, broken down by age groups. The first age group is where you’ll find the majority of prospects. The second group can include prospects, but these guys are getting closer to being too old for the level. They need to make the jump to the US next year to preserve their prospect status, and ideally start to move quickly through the lower levels of the system. The final group is mostly organizational depth. A breakdown of each group can be found below.

Complete DSL Coverage

The Hitters

The Pitchers

10 Prospects to Watch

18 and Under

Richard Mitchell didn’t put up the best stats this season, but he is a hard-throwing righty (hit 91 MPH at age 15), who was just 16 years old when the season started. The Pirates signed him on his 16th birthday for $170,000. He was described as having raw secondary stuff, so he will be back in the DSL next year, likely in a bigger role.

Luis Rico did not transition well from a rookie in the VSL to a second year player in the DSL. He is still young, and a lefty, so there is time for him. He had much better control and a higher strikeout rate last year. He was a high priced ($280,000) pitcher so the Pirates must have seen something they really like with him.

Julio Vivas was the opposite of Rico. He showed big strides over his rookie season in the VSL last year. He could possibly move up, especially with the strong finish that saw him end the regular season with 22.2 scoreless innings.

Jorge Mendoza was one of the youngest players in the VSL last year, though he pitched just one inning. He showed improvements as this season went on, with a 2.65 ERA in 18.1 innings after the All-Star break.

Dan Urbina wasn’t used much last year in the VSL and didn’t pitch well when he did play. This year he was much stronger overall, throwing an extra 31.2 innings. His overall stats took a hit at the end of the season with a very poor finish, which could have been from tiring due to the extra work. It was still a strong improvement over last season.

Eduardo Vera signed out of Mexico in March and was the opposite of Urbina, with a slow start and very strong finish. One shaky outing in early July (1.2 IP, 6 ER) really skewed his overall ERA.

Remy De Aza showed very poor control and didn’t pitch during the last month of the season. He was an unknown coming into the season, but has good size and youth on his side.

Ages 19-20

Adrian Grullon is a hard-throwing righty, that signed for $120,000 and pitched just five innings last year. He was invited to the Fall Instructional league and it is very likely he moves up to the GCL due to his bonus and age, but he has very limited experience for someone who is just days short of his 20th birthday.

Alexander Gutierrez now has two seasons in which he has shown control issues and has posted a high ERA. He had a low BAA and he is a 19-year-old lefty with good size, so he could return for another season, but he has a lot of work to do.

After the 2010 season, Angel Sanchez looked like a legit prospect. A 6′ 7″, seventeen year old lefty, who was named to the DSL All-Star team that season, he had some control issues but was tough to hit and got a ton of ground balls. Then 2011 happened and he fell off the prospect map quick. He walked 22 batters and allowed 22 hits in 12.2 innings. Sanchez bounced back from that season, but the command issues are still there, just not as bad as his first two years. He was surprisingly invited to the Fall Instructional League and could be in the GCL next year.

Cesilio Pimentel

Cesilio Pimentel had a big time strikeout rate (31 in 23.1 IP) his first year, last season. This year he pitched an extra 29 innings and saw a big drop in his strikeout rate, but still pitched well. He did not allow an earned run in his last 19 innings during the regular season.He had a strong start during the DSL finals, allowing one unearned run over four innings, with six strikeouts. Pimentel seems like a prime candidate to move to the states next year with his invitation to the Instructional League.

Francis Rodriguez was a bit old for a first year player this season. He showed huge home/road splits (2.55 ERA at home) and a good ground ball rate, but not much else.

Jesus Paredes pitched very poorly in the VSL last year (7.04 ERA/14 BB in 15.1 IP), then totally turned things around in the DSL. After just four strikeouts last year, he had 35 in 30 IP this season and he was hard to hit. His only drawback seemed to be a very poor ground ball rate.

Leandro Rodriguez was signed out of the Dominican Prospect League last February for $80,000, but didn’t make his debut until this season. He pitched well in July (1.23 ERA in five starts), though he didn’t start or finish the season strong. He is a possibility for a Fall Instructional League invite this year due to his age/bonus/workload.

When Oderman Rocha didn’t get promoted to the states for this season, it was a big surprise to me. He pitched like the decision to hold him back was a bad one. Last year in the VSL, he threw 54.2 innings, had 52 strikeouts, a 3.29 ERA, didn’t allow a home run and had a 1.44 GO/AO ratio. This year he was much better, showing improvements across the board. He was an invite the the Fall Instructional League and will likely stick in the GCL next season.

Omar Basulto was a first year player in the DSL, though he did pitch briefly in the Mexican League last season. He had a strong overall season, that was even better during the second half, when he recorded 26 strikeouts in 21.2 innings. He should move up to the GCL next season as well, though he wasn’t on the initial Fall Instructional League roster, so he may have things to work on in another season in the DSL.

Ramon Rodriguez pitched well as a rookie last season, with one bad outing skewing his final totals. This year, things didn’t go so well in his ten starts. He had a strong strikeout rate his first year and this season he showed good control and a nice ground ball rate, but his overall numbers were poor.

Andres Mendoza showed excellent improvements over his ERA from last year, getting similar work (same amount of appearances, one less IP) as last year in the VSL. His overall numbers besides ERA weren’t much different though, with near identical walk/strikeout totals and a better BAA, but worse GO/AO ratio. He was consistently good all year, but may remain in the DSL as an innings-eater out of the bullpen due to his age.

Christian Henriquez was a July 2nd signing in 2010. He had a decent first season last year, getting 37 innings as a rookie. This season he showed a big improvement in his ground ball rate (0.46 to 1.37) and his walk rate, which wasn’t that bad last year. With a strong finish to his season and a heavy workload, he could move up to the GCL next year.

Another July 2nd signing from 2010 was Mervin Del Rosario, who has pitched 112 innings over the last two seasons in the DSL. He signed for $55,000, and runs his sinker up to 93 MPH, while throwing an above average slider. He showed improved command over last season, which wasn’t bad to begin with, but he has yet to learn how to strike guys out. The results overall were good for the twenty year old 6′ 3″ lefty, who should move up to the GCL next season.

Christopher De Leon has been hard to hit for three seasons in the DSL. He did have some control issues as a rookie and he wasn’t as sharp this year, but he showed a higher strikeout rate and his ground ball rate has gone up slightly each year. At age twenty, he could move to the GCL, but doesn’t seem like he has much of a future since they didn’t think enough of him to move him up after last season. He signed for a $150,000 bonus in 2009.

Jose Regalado saw plenty of action in his second season, but unfortunately it was another older pitcher getting a lot of work for the DSL team. He will turn twenty-one before the year ends. He did a good job of keeping the ball on the ground, in the park and in the strike zone, but his overall numbers were average.

Jose Marrujo was strong in the VSL last year, then got hit hard this season and didn’t pitch after the middle of June. His time in the system might be done. Miguel Rosario pitched just three games in his first season of pro ball at age nineteen, but he was invited to the Fall Instructional League so there must be something good about him. Brayan Almonte pitched in the GCL last year, then was returned to the DSL after pitching very poorly. He didn’t do much better this season and at 21 years old next month, he could be done. Miguel Ferreras returned to the DSL after a very poor first season in 2010, followed by missing all of 2011. He has good size, showed a good strikeout rate and overall his results were good, but he is just shy of 21 years old, so he got lumped in the last paragraph. Marcus Beltrez was hard to hit his first season, but he didn’t pitch much and he was also old for a first year player. He was born in New York. Luylli Miranda is a twenty year old rookie, with a poor ground ball rate, but he was good-to-above average in all other aspects. Still, a rookie at that age usually isn’t a good sign.

Ages 21 and Up

Luis Santos seems to be the most likely (only?) of this group to have any shot of moving up with any success. He pitched in relief last year and showed a strong strikeout rate, which he improved on, pitching three times as many innings this year. He had a strong ground ball rate and was very hard to hit. He was invited to the Instructional League.

Jovany Lopez just completed his fourth season of foreign Summer league ball and received an invite to the Fall Instructional League, though his time in the DSL is up(four year limit) so they may just be taking a look at him before making a decision on whether to keep him or not. The Pirates didn’t promote the little lefty after last season, when he had a 1.64 ERA, with strong strikeout and ground ball rates.

Carlos Ruiz seems to be the king of ground balls, with his 4.71 GO/AO ratio last season and 5.55 this year. He pitched better though last season and didn’t get promoted to the states, so that isn’t a good sign for his future. He hasn’t allowed a home run in three seasons.

Arquimedes Lorenzo was highly thought of when he signed, but three years and one 50 game suspension later, he still has plenty of flaws, including a lack of control on his pitches.

It took Oscar Calderin three seasons (two in the VSL) before he had a decent season. He has always had a low strikeout/high groundball rate, but this year the GO/AO ratio was much lower and he was used sparingly all season.

Cristian Santiago, as the oldest pitcher, did not pitch well. He was in his first season in the DSL, which also isn’t a good sign. What is a good sign is a Fall Instructional League invite, which makes you wonder why it took so long for him to be signed in the first place and what the Pirates could actually see in a pitcher who was older than the competition and didn’t pitch well.

Below are the stats from each hitter in the DSL, broken down by age groups. The first age group is where you’ll find the majority of prospects. The second group can include prospects, but these guys are getting closer to being too old for the level. They need to make the jump to the US next year to preserve their prospect status, and ideally start to move quickly through the lower levels of the system. The final group is mostly organizational depth. A breakdown of each group can be found below.

Complete DSL Coverage

The Hitters

The Pitchers

10 Prospects to Watch

18 and Under

Yunior Aquiles was signed to a six figure bonus in 2010, and described at the time as raw, though he’s very fast, with power potential and the ability to play center field. In two seasons now, the Pirates have seen none of that from him. He showed slight improvements over last year, and got more playing time, though his 2011 season was awful, so it wasn’t hard to improve on. He still struck out too much, and he played almost all of his games in right field. Due to the fact he is still shy of his 19th birthday, he still has time to live up to his potential, but he really needs to step it up next year.

Reggie Cerda is the youngest position player among the two Pirates affiliates and only one pitcher, Richard Mitchell, is younger. Reggie was given a light workload in his rookie season, catching nine games in each of the first two months and six games in August. He finished strong with the bat and will likely see much more time in the DSL in 2013.

Bealyn Chourio saw some decent time as one of the younger players on the VSL squad last year, then this season, he played just two games without an at-bat. His appearances came a week apart from each other at the end of June.

Carlos Munoz is a stocky lefty, who saw limited time and the end of the VSL season last year. This season he saw regular playing time all season, splitting his time between the two teams. He has the build to hit for power, but he hasn’t yet. Carlos did show an excellent walk rate, 40 of them in 47 games, with just 18 strikeouts.

Fredis Padilla was signed as a shortstop out of Colombia in March, though he spent most of his time at second base this year. He had real poor stats in both June and August, but he hit .321 in July, when he got most of his playing time. He was regarded as a guy who could really hit when he was signed, with the potential to add some power.

Gustavo Barrios started the season with the Pirates1 and hit well with strong defense. In late July, they moved him to the other club and he was one of the best hitters in the league over the last month of the season. He hit .353 in his last twenty games. He signed at the same time as Padilla out of Colombia, and he was also a shortstop, though he spent all his time at second base or as the DH. Barrios was called a “projectable” player when he signed, so his strong hitting in his rookie season was a pleasant surprise.

A third player signed out of Colombia at the same time was Tito Polo, who hit .317 through the end of July, before slowing down in August. Polo was called a strong hitter with plus speed, who could play center field, although his arm was not that good. He didn’t turn 18 until late in the season. Tito showed that plus speed with 17 steals and his .798 OPS was fourth best among both teams. He split his time between CF/LF.

Jesus Ronco played five games in June, then 11 in August. He played third base and some shortstop, plus caught one game. He hit just .174, but he’s only 18 and it was his rookie season in which he missed time, so he should be back seeing more playing time next year. Just like the previous three players, he was signed out of Colombia at the same time and like Barrios, he was called projectable.

Jose Salazar looked like an interesting player to watch. Last season in the VSL, he played shortstop over Dilson Herrera, who not only signed one of the bigger bonuses in 2010 among the Pirates international class, but he reached State College this year and did well there. With the move to the DSL this year, Jose saw most of his time at third base. His stats were very similar to last year, which can be considered a disappointment, despite the fact the DSL is a more talented league than the VSL. He will still be just 18 years old when the 2013 season opens, so he has time.

Luis Benitez showed a good eye at the plate and was quick on the bases. He is a switch-hitter, but he had trouble at both sides of the plate. Luis is definitely on the small side and he hit for no power in his rookie season. Steven De La Mota was listed as a first baseman, but he played left field and didn’t see any game time after June. His .145 average as a rookie, and lack of playing time, is not a good sign.

Ages 19-20

Maximo Rivera had the breakout season it seemed he was destined for after a strong finish to last year. The only problem was, he was supposed to be a power hitting third baseman by now. Last year he hit seven homers, with most of that damage coming late in the year. This year, he hit .367, third highest average in the league. He also stole 34 bases, second most in the DSL. Rivera only hit four homers though, none after the All-Star break. He moved all around the field too, seeing time at every spot except pitcher and catcher. He wasn’t on the initial Fall Instructional League roster but I still predict he should see plenty of time in the GCL next year.

Adrian de Aza didn’t have the breakout year projected for him. He was signed in 2010 for $150,000 out of the Dominican Prospect League. He saw the playing time I predicted for him, but for a five tool player in his second DSL season, the results were poor. Adrian spent most of his time in left field this year and showed more power than he did during his 29 games in the DSL last year. His walk rate went down and he is supposed to have well above average speed, but he went just 4-for-8 on the basepaths. The numbers would suggest that he won’t be moved up next year, but due to his age/bonus/tools, he could be in the GCL in 2013, though like Rivera, he wasn’t an Instructs invite.

Carlos Ozuna

Carlos Ozuna signed last year for $115,000 and made his debut this season, seeing plenty of playing time. All of his playing time was spent at shortstop, where he can field well and has a strong arm. The book on him is that he makes strong contact, doesn’t hit for any power, and he has good speed. The numbers seemed to indicate the scouting report was right on with him. He was an invite to the Instruction League and with the aggressive promotions to Pirates have had the last couple years, he could move up to the GCL next year and play shortstop every day.

Danny Arribas was easily the most used Pirates player in the DSL, leading the team with 64 games played and 271 plate appearances. He signed last year for $110,000 and struggled in his first season. This year he broke out, raising his average .108 points. He is a valuable player, who saw plenty of time at both corner infield spots and behind the plate, where he threw out 40% of attempted base stealers. He should be a regular in the GCL next season.

The Pirates made Dennis Hurtarte the first player they ever signed out of Guatemala last year. He made his debut this season in the DSL and saw plenty of time at first base. He started off slow with the bat, then picked up a little as the season went along. He is a switch-hitter, though he was much better from the left side. Dennis has decent size, but didn’t show much power with eight doubles and no triples or homers.

Pablo Reyes was the other regular shortstop for the Pirates in the DSL. He had a very similar rookie year to Ozuna (Reyes is two months younger), with the one big difference being the strikeouts. Ozuna had 47 strikeouts, while Reyes has just 12 all year. The excellent contact skills, plus 18 doubles, shows a good bat, with plus base running, to go along with the ability to play shortstop everyday.

Ramses Pena signed in 2009 for $150,000 and has yet to show why he received so much. He hasn’t hit in any of his three years and was moved from shortstop to outfield this year. His one bright spot all three years has been his base running, but for now, he looks like he will be back for a fourth and final shot at proving his worth in the DSL.

Rodney Polonia was a name signing two years ago, with his dad being former major leaguer Luis Polonia. Rodney attended his dad’s academy, and along with Edwin Espinal, the Pirates signed both young players. Espinal spent this season in the GCL at 18 years of age, while Polonia struggled in his second season in the DSL, 16 months older than Edwin. His defense at second base was much better than last year, but the bat is still lacking. He is one of the few position players (non-catchers) that only plays one position, now doing that two years in a row.

Carlos Esqueda seems to have had his career derailed by an ankle injury that ended his season early last year. He was 18 games into his second season in the VSL showing improvements over his strong rookie, when a home plate collision caused the injury. This year in the DSL, his stats were well off last year (OPS down .251) and he is now too old for the league. He seemed like a longshot to start, due to his size, but his hitting was hard to overlook before this year.

Angelo Del Castillo was the fifth of five players signed out of Colombia in March. The oldest of the group played left field this year, and while he was good defensively, the bat didn’t play well due to a lack of plate patience. His decent average was offset by just eight walks and 33 strikeouts. The bright spot was his strong finish in August with a .905 OPS.

Edgardo Munoz hit .360 in the VSL last year, showing good contact skills and plate patience. The move to the DSL was not kind, seeing his average drop .121 and his OPS was down 279 points. He is quick and can play centerfield, but he is also getting up there in age and the huge drop-off is a bad sign.

Jordan Galvez is another player who didn’t take well to the jump from the VSL to the DSL. In his first two years, he hit .309 and .308, showing more plate patience the second season. Not only did his average drop over 100 points, but his BB/K ratio was exactly the same as his first year of pro ball. He seems to have stalled out.

Manuel Moreno had a strong rookie season two years ago in the VSL, really struggled last year, then played just nine games this year. He didn’t play after mid-July and will likely be gone, if he isn’t already. It marks a sharp decline for a player that was invited to the Fall Instructional League in 2010.

Ulises Montilla has a great season last year in the VSL, hitting .364 with a .945 OPS. He showed power, some speed and excellent plate patience. His return to international ball in the DSL this year was a bit of a surprise and he proved he could have been moved up to the states this season. He started as an outfielder in 2010, played more second base his second year, then moved to third base this year. Montilla was a consistent hitter this year, hitting lefties and righties well, hitting at home and on the road, and he didn’t have any down months. He was invited to the Fall Instructional League and seems like a safe bet for a promotion, although I said that last year too.

Anthony Claudio didn’t hit well in limited VSL time last year and didn’t do well this season, especially in August, when he hit .125 with no walks. Edgardo Rangel was the starting catcher as a rookie in the VSL last year and had a decent season. This year he saw his playing time cut in half, he didn’t hit any better and he had a ton of trouble throwing out baserunners. Carlos Marquez played two years in the VSL and now one season in the DSL. His hitting improved and he threw out 33% of baserunners, but he has never seen regular playing time, so the Pirates likely aren’t too high on him. Henrry Rosario showed some pop in his bat and was used a lot in center field, both are good signs. The bad signs though are his average, poor stolen base skills, his size and the fact he didn’t start playing until he was nineteen.

Patrick Reyes, in his second season, had a horrible time at the plate. He finished on a 1-for-24 skid and struck out every three AB’s during the year. He has a strong arm, throwing out 40% of base stealers. In his second season in the DSL, Yomifer Polanco put up very similar numbers as his first year, just getting more playing time while doing it. Those numbers weren’t good last year. He spent most of his time in right field. Deybi Garcia is a twenty year old catcher, who hit much better in his limited time last year. He also had a higher caught stealing percentage last year, down to 22% this season. Francis Lopez is a twenty year old backup catcher, with limited experience and a high strikeout rate. He has a good arm and decent size, so there is a plus.

Ages 21 and Up

Julio Perez signed with the Pirates this March out of Mexico at twenty years old. He played in the Mexican League last year briefly, and did well. Perez got decent playing time this year, he has good size and showed some power, though he was playing against kids 2-3 years younger. His strikeout rate was poor, his fielding was below average and his stats dropped off as the season wound down.

Tomas Morales is slightly older than Perez. He caught briefly for the VSL team last year, then started this season hitting well for the Pirates2 team. He was moved to the other affiliate and was hitting good to start, then really dropped off to end the year. He threw out 33% of base stealers.

Yunelky Adames was the oldest player on either DSL club. He barely played after signing last year and did not do well when he did play. This season he showed some power, with 18 doubles and five triples, but he is well past the prospect age.

The Hitters

Another player who saw a promotion to the majors this year was Brock Holt. The infielder was on fire in his 95 at-bats in Triple-A, with a .432 average and a 1.013 OPS. That was enough to make him a surprise September callup, where he received a lot of playing time with injuries to Neil Walker.

Tony Sanchez arrived in Triple-A in the second half of the season, and finally displayed some power after seeing that part of his game disappear the last two seasons. Sanchez hit eight homers in 206 at-bats, which would be a pace of about 19 in a full season. His average was still low, but the increase in power was a good sign.

Jose Tabata and Alex Presley were both sent to Triple-A at different points in the year, after struggling in Pittsburgh. Yamaico Navarro, Matt Hague, Jordy Mercer, and Jeff Clement were other players who spent time in the majors this year, but had better numbers in Triple-A. The Pirates were relying on Tabata and Presley to handle their corner outfield spots, while the hopes were for some of the other guys to take some infield spots. No one from this group has emerged as a major league starter yet.

The end of the season saw Ramon Cabrera and Matt Curry promoted to Triple-A, although neither player got significant playing time. They should both start in Indianapolis next season.

The Pitchers

Heading into next year, the pitchers from Triple-A should play a bigger role. McPherson and Locke could compete for rotation spots on Opening Day. Morris should be in the bullpen, as he’s out of options. Wilson is expected to move back to the rotation, but could find his way back to the majors as a reliever.

The other guys who arrived in Triple-A this year should make the majors later next year. Gerrit Cole is the top guy from that list. He made one regular season start and one playoff start, with poor results in the latter outing. Cole will need some time in Triple-A, but should arrive in the majors by mid-season.

Phil Irwin had impressive numbers in his limited time in Triple-A, highlighted by a 28:7 K/BB ratio in 21 innings. Irwin could provide depth next year as a back of the rotation starter, or a reliever if needed. Duke Welker should also enter the mix as a relief option. He struggled with his control in Indianapolis, but he’s got a great arm and the potential to be a late inning reliever.

Top 10 Prospects

The cutoff for prospects was 140 at-bats, 40 innings pitched, or 20 relief appearances. The cutoff prevented a lot of the top prospects at the level from making the list. Brock Holt, Kyle McPherson, Gerrit Cole, Matt Curry, Ramon Cabrera, and Phil Irwin were all excluded due to their playing time. Guys who are no longer in the organization, like Rudy Owens, were also excluded. Because of these exclusions, the list was very weak, and difficult to fill out at the bottom. Some of the players on this list no longer have prospect eligibility (Starling Marte, Jeff Locke). Those players are included because they had prospect eligibility coming into the year.

1. Starling Marte

2. Jeff Locke

3. Justin Wilson

4. Tony Sanchez

5. Bryan Morris

6. Jordy Mercer

7. Duke Welker

8. Yamaico Navarro

9. Matt Hague

10. Kris Johnson

The Hitters

Tony Sanchez returned to Altoona at the start of the season, and was promoted to Indianapolis after hitting for a .277/.370/.390 line in 141 at-bats. His offensive numbers were better than last year, although his power wasn’t there, and didn’t show up until his final month in Indianapolis. Considering this was his second appearance in Double-A, the results here weren’t very encouraging.

Matt Curry also returned to the level after being promoted at an aggressive pace last year. This time around Curry fared better, with a .285/.352/.480 line. He was a bit inconsistent, struggling in the second half after a monster month of June. Curry had a 1.276 OPS in June, and an .868 OPS in July, mostly from the first half of the month. He slowed down with a .719 OPS in August before being promoted to Indianapolis.

Two of the big standout players from this level were Brock Holt and Adalberto Santos. Holt returned to the level at the start of the year, and was promoted to Indianapolis and eventually the majors, hitting well at every step of the way. Santos missed some time this year with an injury, and only had 238 at-bats. He put up a .340 average and a .425 OBP in that time, showing great hitting and on-base skills. Holt and Santos both profile more as utility players due to their lack of power and poor defense. However, their hitting and on-base skills make them interesting prospects, with the chance to be top of the order hitters if they could keep a high average and OBP in the majors.

Ramon Cabrera had a breakout season in the Florida State League last year, winning the batting title. He started slow in Altoona. In his first three months he never topped .273 with his average and didn’t go over a .700 OPS. In the second half he did much better. In July he hit for a .301 average and a .786 OPS. In August he hit for a .340 average and an .870 OPS. His second half hitting was encouraging due to the lack of catching depth in the minors. Cabrera has been a great hitter throughout his time in the minors, and showed improvements this year behind the plate with his game calling. He profiles more as a backup or a guy who can split the starting job, and most of his value is based on his hitting ability.

The Pitchers

Kyle McPherson returned to the level after suffering a shoulder injury during Spring Training. McPherson made nine starts, struggling at first due to the injury. He eventually was promoted to Indianapolis for a few starts before moving up to the majors.

Vic Black was one of the highlights this year, emerging as a potential late inning reliever. The big story was that Black was finally healthy, pitching a full season in Altoona’s bullpen. His numbers were dominant, with an 85:29 K/BB ratio in 60 innings. Black struggled with his control at times, but was hard to hit, with just 40 hits allowed.

Phil Irwin also had a breakout year. The right-hander doesn’t throw hard, but has displayed solid control, with an 83:17 K/BB ratio in 104.1 innings. He moved up to Indianapolis at the end of the year where he continued to see low walks and high strikeouts.

Tim Alderson was a big story in Spring Training for his added velocity, getting the ball up to 93 MPH. He eventually moved to the rotation, but the results weren’t overly strong. Alderson made 26 appearances this year and only 11 starts, with a 4.25 ERA and a 62:26 K/BB ratio in 84.2 innings.

Kyle Kaminska made a few appearances and one start. He was acquired in the Gaby Sanchez trade and converted to a starter where he has emerged as an interesting prospect.

The level also included several guys who profile as interesting bullpen options down the line: Ryan Beckman, Brandon Cumpton, Jason Townsend, Tyler Waldron, Jeff Inman, Nathan Baker, Mike Colla, and Duke Welker. Out of that group, Cumpton has the best chance to remain as a starter, although he profiles as a back of the rotation type.

Top 10 Prospects

The cutoff for prospects was 140 at-bats, 40 innings pitched, or 20 relief appearances. The two notables who didn’t make the cut were Jameson Taillon and Kyle Kaminska. Robbie Grossman wasn’t included as he is no longer in the organization.

1. Gerrit Cole

2. Kyle McPherson

3. Tony Sanchez

4. Matt Curry

5. Vic Black

6. Ramon Cabrera

7. Phil Irwin

8. Brock Holt

9. Adalberto Santos

10. Brandon Cumpton

Closer Joel Hanrahan was able to put together a second straight successful season as the Pirates closer. Jason Grilli came back for a second year and showed the emergence of the club’s eighth inning man while posting solid strikeout numbers. Tony Watson spent the majority of the season as the lone lefty in the bullpen, but pitched well in his sophomore year. The Pirates saw short samples of rookies Bryan Morris and Justin Wilson in relief, who could help the club in the near future.

Joel Hanrahan

Hanrahan was named to his second straight All-Star team in 2012 and finished with a 2.38 ERA. The hard throwing closer notched 36 saves out of 40 chances. He was successful in 16 of his last 17 save attempts, suffering a blown save on September 30th vs. Cincinnati, which sailed the Pirates their 82nd loss of the year.

Hanrahan ranked fifth in the N.L. in saves.  The right-hander has 82 total saves with the Pirates, which is ranked fourth on the club’s all-time list. Hanrahan is third time arbitration eligible this offseason.

Jason Grilli 

Grilli emerged as the Pirates eighth inning man during the 2012 season in his second year with Pittsburgh. Grilli finished with a 2.91 ERA over a career-high 64 games over 58.2 innings. The right-hander also set a career-high 90 strikeouts and ranked fourth among N.L relievers with a 13.81 K/9 ratio. Grilli was charged with a run in just 15 of his 64 appearances and struck out at least one batter in 56 of those 64 outings.

Grilli is a free agent this offseason.

Jared Hughes

Hughes trailed only Hanrahan for the best ERA amongst relievers out of the Pirates bullpen with at least 36.0 innings pitched. Hughes posted a 2.85 ERA over 66 games (75.2 innings) and led the National League rookie relief pitchers in ERA and ranked second in appearances and innings pitched.

The right-hander had a variety of roles for the club between multiple innings and coming in to pitch mid-inning. Hughes will likely return to the Pirates bullpen for the 2013 season.

Chris Resop

Resop finished the season with a 3.91 ERA over 61 games (73.2 innings) with the Pirates this season. Resop pitched at least one inning more this year than in 2011, making 20 appearances in multiple innings. Resop pitched towards the late innings with the Pirates during the 2012 season. He held batters to a .226 average with runners in scoring position, and a .146 mark with RISP with two outs.

Resop is second time arbitration eligible this offseason.

Tony Watson

Watson put together a solid 2012 season as the club’s lone lefty out of the bullpen for the majority of the year. Watson finished with a 3.38 ERA with a team-high and career-high 68 appearances (53.1 innings) this year. The left-hander whiffed 53 batters over 53.1 innings this year. Watson also inherited a team-high 61 runners, the second-highest total in the National League.

Watson finished strong with a 1.71 ERA in his final 31 games. The lefty will return to the Pirates bullpen in 2013.

Chad Qualls

Qualls finished with a combined 5.33 ERA over 60 Major League games with the Pirates, Phillies and Yankees. That mark was a 6.59 ERA after Pittsburgh acquired the right-hander at the trade deadline for infielder Casey McGehee.

Qualls is a free agent and will not likely return to the Pirates next year.

Chris Leroux

Leroux started the season on the disabled list with a right pectoral muscle strain. After rehabbing in the Minors, out of options, the Pirates designated the right-hander for assignment. He was not claimed and was sent to Triple-A Indianapolis. Leroux posted a 3.11 ERA over 63.2 innings. Leroux made 21 appearances, seven of those starts with Indy. The Pirates added him back on the 40-man when he was a September callup. Leroux posted a 5.56 ERA over 11.1 innings with just two walks and 12 strikeouts.

Leroux is out of options. He will enter spring training battling for a spot in the bullpen.

Hisanori Takahashi

Takahashi posted an 8.64 ERA in nine appearances with the Pirates after being claimed off waivers from Los Angeles in August. Seven of his eight runs he allowed over 8.1 innings came in two games. Takahashi sported a 4.93 ERA with the Angeles prior to joining Pittsburgh.

Takahashi is a free agent and will not likely return to the Pirates next year.

Bryan Morris

Morris joined the Pirates in September after the Triple-A Indians finished their playoff run. In limited time, Morris was solid in his five appearances. Morris posted a 1.80 ERA over five innings with two walks and six strikeouts. He made his Major League debut at Chicago and tossed a perfect frame in relief. Morris gave up both runs (just one earned) over an inning against Milwaukee. He did not allow a run in his other four games.

Morris posted a 2.67 ERA over 81.0 innings with Triple-A in 2012. The right-hander is out of options next year, which gives him a good chance of breaking camp out of spring training in 2013.

Justin Wilson

Wilson made his Major League debut on August 20 at San Diego, and struck out the side in his scoreless inning of work. He was sent back to Triple-A, and returned as a September callup. Wilson posted a 1.93 ERA over 4.2 innings. He walked three while striking out seven during that span.

Wilson went 9-6 with a 3.78 ERA and 138 whiffs over 29 games (25 starts). Wilson was moved into the bullpen late in the season to join Watson as the club’s second lefty in the bullpen. The organization likes Wilson as a starter, so he could return to Triple-A to start 2013, but join the Pirates at some point next season.

Rick vandenHurk

VandenHurk finished with a 13.50 ERA over four games with the Pirates after begin selected from Triple-A for a September callup. The right-hander went 13-5 with a 2.92 ERA over 19 starts with Indy and was named the team’s Pitcher-of-the-Year. He finished fifth among International League pitchers in ERA.

Daniel McCutchen

After spending the entire 2011 season with the Pirates in the Majors last season, McCutchen made just one appearance in the bigs this season. McCutchen was optioned to Triple-A to start the year out of spring training. He allowed two runs on a hit and a walk without retiring a batter in relief on August 21st.

McCutchen did not join the team as a September callup. He is currently in the Dominican Republic with the Tigres del Licey for winter ball. McCutchen has not yet made an appearance.

Prospects

by Tim Williams

Most successful major league relievers were starting pitching prospects at one point in their career. There aren’t really many relief pitching prospects in the minors. The Pirates have a few guys who are upper level relievers with late inning potential. Vic Black and Duke Welker are the main two, and both could have a shot at the major league bullpen next year. Bryan Morris is another, and will have to be in the majors next year, as he’s out of options.

In the last few years the Pirates have found the most success by moving struggling starters to the bullpen. This is a very common tale. It led to Tony Watson and Jared Hughes, who both looked like organizational starters in Altoona, but both have emerged as strong options out of the bullpen.

The Pirates have a few upper level candidates who could take that route. Phil Irwin has a shot of making it as a back of the rotation starter, but the Pirates might not need him in the rotation, and could move him to the bullpen if needed late next year. Brandon Cumpton and Tyler Waldron have been starters, but both profile better as relievers. Mike Colla and Nathan Baker have both moved to the bullpen from their previous starting roles.

The standout guys are Morris, Black, and Welker, as those are the guys with closer stuff. Guys like Irwin, Cumpton, and Waldron could emerge as middle relief options, and possibly as soon as 2013, since all three have already pitched as high as Double-A.

Veteran A.J. Burnett led the staff, finishing the season with a 3.51 ERA. Burnett’s impact, not only on the mound, but in the clubhouse was strong. Burnett took several players under his wing — James McDonald, Jeff Locke, Kyle McPherson — who have all attributed learning a lot from Burnett. After Burnett’s final start of the 2012 season on the final game, Manager Clint Hurdle said that he deserved the “Comeback Player-of-the-Year” award for his solid bounce back season with the Pirates after New York traded him prior to spring training.

The Pirates used 10 different starters this season. James McDonald had the tale of two seasons, sporting an impressive 2.37 ERA at the All-Star break. But his second half slide forced him to end the season in the bullpen. Charlie Morton was lost to Tommy John Surgery, and Jeff Karstens battled injuries for the majority of the season. Wandy Rodriguez was a welcome addition to the staff after the Pirates acquired him from Houston at the trade deadline. Two rookies in Locke and McPherson finished the season in the rotation, showing flashes of why they’re both top prospects.

Pittsburgh ranked eighth among National League teams with a 3.86 ERA. The last time the Pirates pitching staff finished a season with an ERA below 4.00 was 1998 (3.91) and the last season in which the team ERA was lower than 3.90 was 1992 (3.35).They also established a club record with 1,192 strikeouts this season, breaking the previous mark of 1,124 set in 1969. The staff finished strong by recording 226 strikeouts in September, the most by the team in any calendar month in franchise history (previous high was 225 posted by the 1969 team also during the month of September).

A.J. Burnett

When the Pirates acquired Burnett in February from New York, the 35-year-old escaped the high pressure of the Yankees, where he had spent the previous three seasons. After suffering a right orbital bone fracture during a bunting competition at Pirate City, Burnett joined the Pirates on April 21st and made an impressive impact. Burnett went 7-0 with a 2.00 ERA in his first 10 starts. It was with Pittsburgh that Burnett said he found joy in the game again after losing it in New York.

Burnett finished the 2012 season with a 16-10 record and a 3.51 ERA. Burnett also notched one complete game in 31 starts with Pittsburgh. He led club with 180 strikeouts and 202.1 innings pitched. The veteran also put together an impressive stretch for the club from May 19th until July 8th (10 starts), where he went 9-0 and a 2.93 ERA. That nine-game winning streak was the longest since Dock Ellis won 13 in 1971. The 35-year-old also tossed a one-hitter at Chicago on July 31 — losing the no-hitter with two outs in 8th — and was named N.L. Player-of-the-Week for week ending August 5th.

Burnett will rejoin the Pirates rotation in 2013. He has one-year remaining on his contract.

James McDonald

McDonald had the tale of two seasons with the Pirates in 2012. In his 17 starts before the All-Star break, McDonald posted a 2.37 ERA. During that time, he was charged with two earned runs or less in 12 of those 17 starts. The 27-year-old also had the second-lowest ERA among N.L. pitchers in May (1.54). McDonald tossed his first Major League complete game on June 21st vs. Minnesota.

After the break, Hurdle reshuffled the rotation, moving the right-hander to the staff’s No.1 arm. McDonald, however, struggled, posting a 7.52 ERA in his final 13 starts after the break. The struggled forced Hurdle to move McDonald into the bullpen, where he made one appearance in relief before the season ended.

McDonald finished with a 12-8 record and a 4.21 ERA in 30 games (29 starts) with Pittsburgh. McDonald will likely be in the rotation for the 2013 season.

Kevin Correia 

Correia posted a 4.21 ERA over 32 games (28 starts) with Pittsburgh in his final year of his two-year contract with the Pirates. When the club acquired Wandy Rodriguez from Houston at the trade deadline, the right-hander was moved into the bullpen, where he made just four appearances before he returned to the rotation. Correia finished strong, posting a 3.14 ERA in his final 10 games.

Correia is a free agent, and will not likely return to Pittsburgh in 2013.

Jeff Karstens

Karstens led the staff in 2011 with a 3.38 ERA and was the club’s most consistent pitcher. He set a career-high in innings (162.1), but injuries this year kept him from reaching the 100 inning mark. Karstens spent close to two months on the disabled list with right shoulder inflammation after making just three starts to begin the year. While rehabbing, a hip flexor injury delayed his return. The same hip injury sidelined him again in August, where he missed two more weeks of action. Once healthy, Karstens was moved into relief where he finished the season as Hurdle decided to get looks at prospect Kyle McPherson in his spot.

Karstens posted a 3.97 ERA over 19 games (15 starts) with Pittsburgh. The 30-year-old will be third time eligible this offseason.

Wandy Rodriguez

When Rodriguez was first acquired from Houston at the trade deadline, the left-hander struggled to start. Rodriguez admitted that he tried to justify the trade, trying to do too much. But it was after a two-inning relief appearance in the club’s 19-inning game in St. Louis that Rodriguez was finally able to find comfort.

Rodriguez finished the season with a 3.72 ERA in his 12 starts with Pittsburgh and overall a 3.76 ERA between Pittsburgh and the Astros in 2012. Rodriguez has pitched the most innings (1381.2) among all National League left-handers since the start of the 2005 season. He will return to the starting staff for 2013. The Pirates also have a club option for the lefty in 2014.

Jeff Locke

When Locke joined the big league club in August, the left-hander appeared in relief — a role that he was not familiar with. But Locke was perfect in those two relief outings, not allowing a run over 4.1 innings. Locke was then moved into the starting rotation when the Pirates released Erik Bedard. Locke posted a 5.50 ERA in eight games (six starts). His starts were mixed results, most of the damage coming from a big inning. Locke did finish strong, picking up his first Major League win on October 1st, where he allowed just one run over six frames.

Locke put together his best season in the minors since being drafted by Atlanta out of High School in 2006 with Triple-A Indianapolis this season. The lefty went 10-5 with a 2.48 mark. He also struck out 131 batters over those 24 starts and allowed just two earned runs in his final 31.0 innings with Indy. Locke finished third among all International League pitchers in ERA and fourth in strikeouts.

Locke will enter spring training in 2013 battling for a spot in the Pirates starting rotation.

Kyle McPherson

Similar to Locke, McPherson was promoted to the Majors and was used in relief to start. He made seven appearances in relief — including his Major League debut in San Diego on August 30th — and posted a 1.54 ERA during that span. The rookie right-hander was then given the opportunity to finish the season in the rotation allowing the organization to get ample looks. McPherson put up solid numbers — a 3.68 ERA over three starts — which included a six scoreless outing in his final start of the year.

McPherson began the season on the disabled list after suffering right shoulder inflammation in spring training. He did not make his first appearance until June 16th with Altoona. He battled through Double-A, before shining at the Triple-A level. McPherson posted a 2.48 ERA over 67.0 innings between the two levels.

McPherson is currently pitching for the Tigres del Licey in the Dominican League to build up some innings he missed due to the injury. McPherson will enter spring training batting for a spot in the Pirates rotation.

Charlie Morton

Morton posted a 4.65 ERA in nine starts with the Pirates before suffering right elbow inflammation on June 1st. Morton had Tommy John surgery on the 14th, and missed the remainder of the season. The right-hander is currently rehabbing his elbow in Bradenton, Fla.

Morton will be second-time arbitration eligible this offseason. He is not expected to return until at least June of the 2013 season.

Prospects

by Tim Williams

The top prospects in the system — Gerrit Cole and Jameson Taillon — could start making an impact next year. Cole is almost a guarantee to make his major league debut in 2013. Taillon also has a shot at reaching the majors by the end of the year if he enters the 2013 season pitching the way he did in the final two months of the 2012 season. Both starters have number one upside, giving the Pirates the potential for an exciting rotation down the line. At the latest, they should be together in the majors in 2014.

Two of the upper level options got extended looks in the majors this year. Kyle McPherson has a good three pitch mix, and profiles as a strong number three starter who can eat some innings. Jeff Locke is a similar pitcher, only from the left side. He profiles as a number four starter, and can also eat up some innings. Both pitchers should battle for a spot in the rotation on Opening Day next year.

Justin Wilson is also a starting candidate in Triple-A. Wilson has moved back and forth between the rotation and the bullpen, moving to the pen at the end of the year to give the Pirates another lefty reliever in the majors. The club still sees him as a starter in the long-term, although control is an issue. Wilson has the stuff to be a number one starter, but his control issues make him more of a number three or number four starter at best. They could also eventually land him in the bullpen, although the control issues exist in both areas, so a move to the bullpen wouldn’t make that problem go away.

Phil Irwin is an interesting option in the upper levels. The 21st round pick from the 2009 draft reached Triple-A this year, and put up some impressive strikeout numbers. Irwin profiles as a back of the rotation starter, and might end up as a bullpen option with all of the starters the Pirates have in the majors and the upper levels. If he keeps up his dominant numbers (117:24 K/BB ratio in 130.1 IP this year) he could force his way in to the majors in 2013.

In the lower levels of the system the Pirates are building some depth, with a few potential impact starters stepping forward. Luis Heredia could be mentioned in the same sentence as Taillon and Cole when talking about the best prospects in the system. Heredia has the upside to be an ace, and started showing glimpses of that in 2013. A few of the recent prep pitchers are also stepping forward. Nick Kingham (2010 4th round) has a good three pitch mix, and reminds me a lot of Kyle McPherson. Clay Holmes (2011 9th round) and Tyler Glasnow (2011 5th round) both had impressive numbers this year. Neither pitcher has a ceiling right now, as they’re both still developing.

For the short and long-term, the keys to the rotation in Pittsburgh will be Cole and Taillon. In the lower levels there are other guys who could step up and join those two, giving the Pirates an even greater chance at multiple aces in the same rotation. In the upper and lower levels there are also several potential #3-5 starters who can add depth. The Pirates have spent a lot of money and draft picks on pitching. As a result, that is the strongest part of their farm system, and looks like the position with the smallest need for outside help at the major league level in 2013.

In 2011, McCutchen started the first half of the season with an impressive campaign. By the All-Star break, he had a .291 average and 14 long balls. But a second half slump, which McCutchen admitted to trying to swing for the fences when the team collapsed, contributed to just a .217 average over the final 70 games to drop his season clip to .259. In the offseason, McCutchen worked hard to ensure that he wouldn’t have the same problem in 2012.

McCutchen once again started off strong. By the break this year, he had posted an impressive .362/.414/.625 line. His 18 long balls were just five shy of his previous high, set in 2011. The Pirates were in the playoff mix once again for the second straight season, but the club’s struggles during the final six weeks notched their 20th consecutive losing season. McCutchen, too, struggled down the stretch, hitting just .252 in August, .260 in September. Although despite the rough patch, McCutchen’s second half numbers were still higher than his career .276 mark he had entering the 2012 season. The 26-year-old hit .289 after the All-Star break, and was in the mix for the National League batting title but lost out to San Francisco’s Buster Posey just days before the season ended.

Overall, McCutchen capped off a career-year in Pittsburgh, showing why the Pirates signed the center fielder to a long-term deal during spring training.

Andrew McCutchen

McCutchen finished the 2012 season with a .327 average with 29 doubles, six triples, 31 HR, 96 RBI and 20 SB in 156 games with the Pirates. McCutchen led the National League with 194 hits, the first Pittsburgh player to do so since Andy Van Slyke in 1992 (199). But his impressive numbers didn’t stop there. He ranked second in OBP (.400), slugging (.553) and total bases (328).

With 31 home runs and 20 stolen bases, Andrew McCutchen became just the fourth player in team history to reach the 30/20 mark in one season. Jason Bay (32 HR/21 SB) was the last Bucco to do it in 2005, and only Dave Parker and Barry Bonds have reached those marks. McCutchen, Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun and Los Angeles’ Mike Trout were the only players in the Major Leagues this season with at least 30 home runs and 20 stolen bases. McCutchen also earned N.L. Player-of-the-Month in June and July.

Alex Presley

Presley appeared in four games (two starts) in center field this season. Only Nate McLouth, who the Pirates released after a .140 average, made more starts (three) in center field.

Presley struggled in his sophomore year in 2012 and was even demoted to Triple-A Indianapolis to get back on track. Presley put up strong numbers while in the minors — a .307 average, five home runs in 40 games with Indianapolis — but struggled to translate them into the Majors this season.

Presley finished with a .237 average, with 14 doubles, seven triples, 10 home runs and 25 RBI in 104 games with Pirates. Presley did show flashes of getting back on track. He led club with his career-high seven triples, the most by a Bucco since Andrew McCutchen in 2009 (nine), and also hit double digits in homers for the first time in his career.

Starling Marte

Marte made just one start (four appearances) in center this season. Coming up through the system, Marte has been touted to have an even better glove than McCutchen. Scouts even said that it could push McCutchen to a corner, but with McCutchen in a long-term deal and face of the franchise, the move is unlikely.

Marte put up solid numbers in his limited playing time in the Majors his rookie season. After spending 98 games in the Minors, while fans eagerly awaited his debut, the outfielder put together a .286 average, 12 home runs and 61 RBI during that span before an oblique injury forced him on the disabled list.

Marte returned from the injury and went on to hit .264 over his final 24 games. Overall, Marte hit for a .257 clip with three doubles, six triples, five homers, 17 RBI and 12 stolen bases in 47 games with Bucs.

Prospects

by Tim Williams

The Pirates signed Andrew McCutchen to an extension prior to the 2012 season, which locked the center fielder up through the 2017 season, with an option for 2018. If the Pirates want to keep McCutchen in center field, they won’t be looking for a prospect for this position for a long time.

There is reason for the Pirates to be looking, and that’s to upgrade McCutchen’s defense. The center fielder put up a -7.0 UZR/150 this year. In his career in the majors, McCutchen has a -4.7 UZR/150 in just under 5000 innings in center field. Anyone who has watched McCutchen can see that the UZR numbers match the game. He takes some poor routes to balls, has an average arm and air mails the occasional throw, and he doesn’t cover the ground you’d think a guy with his speed would cover, which probably goes back to the poor routes.

McCutchen is a star player, but his best defensive position is left field. There’s no reason for the Pirates to keep McCutchen in center field. They’ve got a much better defensive option in the majors in Starling Marte. Marte covers much more ground, runs better routes in center field, and has a superior arm to McCutchen. There’s no reason to avoid the switch. Regardless of where McCutchen plays, his bat will still be the same in the lineup. The switch would upgrade the defense, which only helps the team win. And for those of you wondering how this could impact McCutchen’s potential earnings by moving off center field, that no longer becomes an issue now that his salary is set through the 2018 season.

Down the line the Pirates have another potential plus defender in center field. Gregory Polanco covers a ton of ground in center, gliding effortlessly with his long legs. He also has a strong arm, which can stick in center. Polanco has been hitting for power this year, and could be a two-way threat in a few years. But Marte will still be in Pittsburgh by that time, so it’s unlikely Polanco would become the top center field option.

For now, the top center field option needs to be Marte. The reasoning is simple: he’s the best center fielder they have in the majors.