The Pirates Prospects 2017 Prospect Guide is now available!
The book features prospect reports on everyone in the system, the 2017 top 50 prospects, and the most comprehensive coverage of the Pirates’ farm system that you can find. Subscribers to the site get discounted books, with Top Prospect subscribers getting $10 off, and Annual subscribers getting $5 off. The eBook will be released later today, and will also come with discounts. Details on the 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 have released the top 20 prospects and their reports to subscribers. 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. Alen Hanson, 2B
17. Elias Diaz, C
16. Max Kranick, RHP
13. Clay Holmes, RHP
10. Gage Hinsz, RHP
We conclude the countdown with the number 1 prospect, Austin Meadows.
1. Austin Meadows, OF
This past offseason was filled with Andrew McCutchen trade rumors, and a near deal that would have sent McCutchen to the Nationals. A big reason the Pirates would consider such a move is because they’ve got Austin Meadows in Triple-A, a step away from the majors, with impact upside.
The Pirates gave Meadows an impressive push in 2016, promoting him from Double-A after just 190 plate appearances. Meadows got the push due to a short, quick swing and controls the strike zone well, while seeing his power potential show up in games. When he was drafted, he was compared to Jay Bruce for his power potential, and he took a big step toward hitting for power in the upper levels.
Defensively, Meadows can play center field, showing off good range. He doesn’t have the arm strength of Marte or Polanco, and will be best suited in left. He will provide some value on defense, but the bulk of his value will come from his impact bat. He’s had some injuries in his career, with a hamstring costing him half of 2014, and a hamstring and oblique costing him time in 2016. He started doing yoga this offseason to increase flexibility and help prevent any future injuries.
Meadows could be up in the second half of the 2017 season, providing a valuable replacement if any of the outfielders go down. He’s as safe of a bet as prospects get when it comes to his skills carrying over to the majors. He could take over a starting role in 2018, with the Pirates likely parting ways with McCutchen before then to make room. If Meadows reaches his upside, he’ll quickly ease the pain of losing McCutchen, and join Marte and Polanco to give the Pirates three potential impact outfielders.
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