The Pirates Prospects 2016 Prospect Guide is now on sale. The book features prospect reports on everyone in the system, the 2016 top 50 prospects, and the most comprehensive coverage of the Pirates’ farm system that you can find. Subscribers to the site get free and discounted books, with Top Prospect subscribers getting the 2016 book for free, and Annual subscribers getting $10 off. Both levels of subscribers can also get the book for just $5. Details on all three promotions can be found on the products page, and you can subscribe to the site or upgrade your current plan on the subscriptions page.
While the top 50 prospects are exclusive to the book, we will be releasing the top 20 prospects over the next few weeks. The reports will only be available to site subscribers, including those with a monthly plan. You can subscribe here, and if you like these reports, be sure to purchase your copy of the book on the products page of the site to get much more analysis on every player in the system.
To recap the countdown so far:
20. Willy Garcia, RF
19. Clay Holmes, RHP
18. Mitch Keller, RHP
We continue the countdown with the number 17 prospect, Max Moroff.
17. Max Moroff, 2B
When Moroff made his pro debut in the GCL in 2012, scouts loved him. The Pirates obviously loved him too, making him a backup plan when Mark Appel didn’t sign. His numbers in 2013 and 2014 weren’t good, but scouts never faded on him. The Pirates didn’t give up either, and were rewarded in 2015 with a breakout season. Moroff received their 2015 Minor League Player of the Year honors.
Moroff has always been a patient hitter who draws a lot of walks, but he was patient to a fault in the lower levels. He would often stand at the plate and watch the count go full, then either draw a walk, strike out, or make weak contact because he was in position where he had to swing at anything close. This year he worked at getting aggressive earlier in the count, while also improving his rhythm. The result was a drop in strikeouts, maintained walk rates, a spike in his average, and a bit more power.
The Pirates originally drafted Moroff as a shortstop, but moved him to second base due to defensive limitations. He doesn’t have the best defense at second base, but showed improvements at the position this year after working with Gift Ngoepe. He also played some shortstop and moved to third base at the end of the year, aiming to give him some versatility. That versatility will be good, as Moroff has a lot of competition next year. Alen Hanson looks to be ahead of him on the second base depth charts, although both have worked at third base, and could break in to the majors as utility players. The extra positions will give Moroff plenty of playing time, and won’t block him behind Hanson.
As for whether Moroff could be a starter, that would depend on whether he can pass Hanson. The defense would have to improve, and he’d have to repeat the offensive success in the upper levels. He makes solid contact to the gaps, has some speed, and the plate patience is only stronger with his aggressive approach early. His best path in the majors might be a utility infielder with a chance at splitting time at second with Hanson, especially if Hanson’s platoon problems remain. Moroff could get a shot at making the majors at some point in 2016 as bench depth.
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