The minor league season begins today, and the Pirates full-season affiliates have been announcing their rosters this week. Here’s a look at the highlights. The links take you to the rosters.
Class AAA Indianapolis: The two top pitching prospects, Jameson Taillon and Tyler Glasnow, will begin the year in the Indians’ rotation. Either or both of them could join the Pirates this season, but probably not any time soon. They both need time in the minors, for different reasons, and the Pirates won’t bail on any of their current starters. Trevor Williams and Steven Brault will be interesting to watch as well.
Ed Easley and Jacob Stallings will open here while Elias Diaz is on the DL. He is doing strength work with his arm, but not throwing yet due to elbow pain.
Lots of talented infielders: Josh Bell, Alen Hanson, Dan Gamache, Max Moroff, Gift Ngoepe. None of them really have a path to a major league job right now, though.
Class AA Altoona: Harold Ramirez and Reese McGuire are the two to watch here. It will be interesting to see how McGuire’s offense progresses at this level. His defense remains exceptional.
Clay Holmes was doing well before Tommy John surgery, and Barrett Barnes has struggled with injuries in his minor league career. They both have a clean slate here.
Class A Bradenton: Kevin Newman and Kevin Kramer, the Pirates’ first- and second-round draft picks in 2015, will both open the season here. Yeudy Garcia, the Pirates’ minor league pitcher of the year, will open the season here, as will Luis Heredia, a onetime prospect who has struggled in recent years.
Low-A West Virginia: Ke’Bryan Hayes, taken between Newman and Kramer, begins the season here. Mitch Keller, a former second-rounder, will open here. He had a great first season in the GCL, but struggled with Bristol last season.
First Published: April 7, 2016, 3:34 a.m.
