On Wednesday, MiLB.com released their organization All-Stars list for the Pittsburgh Pirates. They do a list for all 30 organizations and base the list off the best seasons, not necessarily the best prospects. They pick one player per position, except for pitcher, where they list the best right-handed starter, best lefty starter and best reliever. There is also a spot for a utility fielder. This list is as follows:
C – Elias Diaz
1B – Jose Osuna
2B – Erich Weiss
SS – JaCoby Jones
3B – Chase Simpson
OF – Gregory Polanco, Keon Broxton, Josh Bell
UT – Andrew Lambo
RHP – Tyler Glasnow
LHP – Orlando Castro
RP – Jhondaniel Medina
There are no huge surprises on the list, except maybe Chase Simpson at third base due to time played. Eric Wood and Wyatt Mathisen each had decent seasons and played a lot more. Andrew Lambo being considered a utility guy might be an odd choice. He played three positions, four if you count DH and missed a lot of time. Andrew Maggi had a strong season at Altoona and played six positions.
If you check out the link, they list Stetson Allie as an honorable mention at first base and while Osuna had a great finish to his season, he spent a lot of time at the DH spot, so Allie was probably the better choice. Allie played 107 games at first base, while Osuna played 62 there.
Orlando Castro actually had a decent season that got lost due to a somewhat high 3.81 ERA and missed time. He led all Pirates pitchers with a 1.05 WHIP and walked just 15 batters in 101.2 innings.
Austin Meadows also got an honorable mention, but he missed too much time to break into that outfield group.
Does Medina have any future on the big league team? Also, how hard does he throw? It looks like he had a pretty good year although his walk rate is pretty bad.
I’ve seen him throw 93 MPH multiple times. His control is pretty poor and needs work. He was supposed to get work in Venezuela this winter, but he ended up walking three batters in three straight appearances and hasn’t pitched since. His chances of being a quality major league reliever are fairly slim right now.
John, how would you rank the 1B prospects among: Bell, Allie, Osuna as to their likelihood (% chance of success) of becoming a regular MLB firstbaseman, either with the Pirates or another team?
Bell definitely is the best prospect and has the best chance at major league success. Allie is going to need to cut down on strikeouts, otherwise he will end up like Brad Eldred, which means he will make the majors and show his face every once in awhile, but without much success. Osuna makes better contact than Allie, but doesn’t have the power or draw the walks, so he is third best and his chances right now to make the majors are slim. All three of them have struggled in off-season ball, Bell in Arizona, Allie in Mexico and Osuna in Venezuela
Why isn’t Alen Hanson on the list?
Because they believed JaCoby Jones had the better season at shortstop. If it was a prospect list, Hanson would have likely made it.