Around this time last year, I took a look at what was remaining in the system from each draft class, which at the time went back to 2005 and Andrew McCutchen. I thought I would update those articles over the next four days, looking at the drafts before 2014 today, followed by 2014-15 tomorrow and then 2016 and 2017. For the most recent drafts, it’s more of an update on their progress. For the older drafts, you have a better idea already about most of the players and it’s a look at who is still in the system.
The earliest draft pick still in the system right now is Jordy Mercer. It doesn’t sound like a long time ago, but the fact that he was a 2008 draft pick and he’s reaching free agency at the end of the year, shows you that it has been long in baseball terms. Last year’s list had the aforementioned McCutchen from 2005, plus Tony Watson from 2007. Along with Mercer, you had just three players from drafts before 2010 last year.
No one is left in the system from the 2009 draft, but the 2010 draft has Jameson Taillon in the majors and both Nick Kingham and Casey Sadler at Indianapolis.
The 2011 draft has Josh Bell and Tyler Glasnow in the majors and Clay Holmes in the Indianapolis rotation.
The 2012 draft had seven players left at this time last year. They are down to Max Moroff, Jacob Stallings, Eric Wood and Wyatt Mathisen. You could also count Tyler Gaffney, who hasn’t played since 2012, but he rejoined the Pirates this year.
The 2013 draft had nine players left last year at this time, down from 15 when I looked at it during the previous April. They got one player back this winter in Shane Carle, who was traded away originally, then lost him on waivers a few days later. Now remaining in the system are Austin Meadows, Chad Kuhl, Adam Frazier, Erich Weiss, Brett McKinney and Trae Arbet.
So these drafts have produced seven of their current Major League players, along with numerous players who were traded away over the years. You also have three players in Triple-A who have big league experience, as well as prospects in Austin Meadows and Nick Kingham, plus five other players who are still around.
TODAY’S SCHEDULE
Today’s Starter and Notes: The Pittsburgh Pirates were off yesterday. They will send Chad Kuhl to the mound for his fifth start today, as they return to PNC Park to take on the Detroit Tigers. He allowed one run over six innings in his start against the Rockies last week. In his previous start, he gave up four runs on 11 hits over five innings against the Marlins. The Tigers will counter with veteran right-handed pitcher Jordan Zimmerman, who has a 7.71 ERA in four starts, with 18 strikeouts and a 1.59 WHIP in 16.1 innings. He faced the Pirates on Opening Day in Detroit and allowed four runs over six innings.
The minor league schedule includes the fourth start from Domingo Robles, who allowed one run on two hits in six innings during his last start. He struck out nine batters in that game and has a 16:1 SO/BB ratio this season. He start was rained out yesterday. West Virginia will play a doubleheader tomorrow to make up for the rain out. Dario Agrazal has allowed two runs over his 18 innings of work. He makes his fourth start for Altoona. Tyler Eppler also gets his fourth start, as he looks to bounce back from a rough three inning outing last week that followed up two shutout performances. He was originally scheduled for yesterday, but had his start pushed back a day. Bradenton starter Oddy Nunez allowed one earned run over 5.2 innings in his last appearance.
MLB: Pittsburgh (12-10) vs Tigers (9-11) 7:05 PM
Probable starter: Chad Kuhl (4.57 ERA, 17:7 SO/BB, 21.2 IP)
AAA: Indianapolis (8-7) vs Syracuse (10-6) 11:05 AM (season preview)
Probable starter: Tyler Eppler (2.84 ERA, 14:3 SO/BB, 12.2 IP)
AA: Altoona (9-7) vs Erie (6-11) 6:00 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Dario Agrazal (1.00 ERA, 7:5 SO/BB, 18.0 IP)
High-A: Bradenton (11-7) vs Tampa (9-9) 6:30 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Oddy Nunez (2.31 ERA, 4:3 SO/BB, 11.2 IP)
Low-A: West Virginia (10-7) vs Rome (9-7) 10:35 AM (season preview)
Probable starter: Domingo Robles (5.28 ERA, 16:1 SO/BB, 15.1 IP)
HIGHLIGHTS
From Bradenton last week, here is a three-run homer by Adrian Valerio. He has three homers on the season. You’ll have to click on the link in the tweet to open up a new window because MiLB video links won’t play on the site now for some reason.
Adrian Valerio put a charge into one last night in our 4-2 win over Palm Beach.https://t.co/Mtv45j8EAm
— Bradenton Marauders (@The_Marauders) April 20, 2018
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
4/21: Sergio Cubilete placed on disabled list. Hunter Stratton added to West Virginia roster.
4/20: Pablo Reyes promoted to Indianapolis. Brett McKinney assigned to Morgantown.
4/20: Kevin Krause released. Bralin Jackson and Jordan George added to Altoona roster.
4/20: AJ Schugel assigned to Indianapolis on rehab.
4/18: Dylan Prohoroff placed on West Virginia DL. Matt Seelinger added to WV roster.
4/17: Brent Gibbs retired.
4/16: Josh Harrison placed on DL. Dovydas Neverauskas optioned to Indianapolis. Enny Romero and Max Moroff added to Pirates.
4/16: Jesus Liranzo activated from Altoona disabled list. Sam Street assigned to Morgantown.
4/14: Pirates claim Enny Romero off of waivers.
4/13: Kyle Crick and Richard Rodriguez recalled. Clay Holmes and Josh Smoker sent to Indianapolis.
THIS DATE IN PIRATES HISTORY
Four former Pittsburgh Pirates players born on this date, and all four lasted just one season with the team. The four players were spread out pretty well throughout Pirates history. First baseman Jim Field played for the team in 1885. Pete Falsey played for the Pirates in 1914, right out of Yale. Dixie Howell caught for the Pirates in 1947 and Bob Beall was a September call-up for the 1980 Pirates.
The 1889 Alleghenys opened their season on April 24th with an 8-5 win over the Chicago White Stockings in front of 4,000 fans. Hall of Fame pitcher Pud Galvin picked up the win. The Alleghenys began the year with eight games at home, then went on a crazy road trip. From May 3rd until June 17th, Pittsburgh played one home game and 32 road games. The strange part is that by the end of the year, the Alleghenys played four more home games that season (70-to-66). Part of the reason for that long road trip? The Johnstown flood made it impossible for them to get home by train.
The Pirates opened up the 1919 season in Chicago against the Cubs after a long layoff between games. The 1918 season was ended early due to the war, wrapping up on September 2nd. Wilbur Cooper was on the mound on a very cold Chicago Opening Day and he took a 5-1 loss, with all of the runs against him coming in the second inning. The Pirates lineup on that day, which had three future Hall of Famers in a row in the 2-4 spots, was as follows:
