Pirates Prospects has learned that the Pittsburgh Pirates are sending 2017 sixth round draft pick Cody Bolton to the West Virginia Power. Bolton pitched today in Extended Spring Training, so he likely won’t be activated until the middle of next week.
The move is somewhat surprising on paper because the Pirates usually send their high school pitching draft picks to Bristol in their first season, unless they are a first round draft pick. We were told in spring that first round pick Shane Baz would likely join West Virginia in late April or early May, giving him the same path that Jameson Taillon took in his first full season of pro ball.
In Spring Training, Bolton was impressive and really looked like he filled out his frame over the off-season. He was old for his draft class, so age-wise it’s not a huge push. He turns 20 next month. That being said, he’s skipping over two levels after putting together a strong Extended Spring Training. Bolton has been pitching four innings at a time and will likely be somewhat limited in his innings as a starter.
On the other hand, Baz has had some control issues (bad at times) according to reports, so that has held him back. I was told today that while he was throwing harder, he was pitching better last year in the GCL than he is now. That has kept him from staying on the projected path for him that was set out in early Spring Training.
