The Pirates made international news last year by sending Class AAA Indianapolis closer Dovydas Neverauskas, who would later become the first Lithuanian-born player to play in the majors, as their lone representative in the All-Star Futures Game.
This year, they made a quieter pick, selecting Class A West Virginia starting pitcher Luis Escobar, a 21-year-old from Cartagena, Colombia, to pitch for the World team. Escobar will be Pittsburgh’s only prospect playing in the Futures Game on Sunday at Marlins Park in Miami.
“We thought being on the big stage may be great for him,” general manager Neal Huntington said last week. “It may be a great opportunity for him. He’s got some confidence. He’s got some poise to him. Going to throw an inning against the best [United States] prospects in Minor League Baseball should be a good experience.”
Escobar, a 6-foot-1 right-hander, had a 4.64 ERA in his first 16 appearances, 15 starts, for the West Virginia Power this season, striking out 100 and walking 33 in 75⅔ innings. He is rated by MLB.com as the Pirates’ No. 12 prospect, and the scouting report includes an above-average heater which can climb above 95 mph, and a decent curveball-changeup combination.
Escobar was an infielder when the Pirates signed him July 8, 2013, so there was a steep learning curve on the mound. He posted a 2.93 ERA in 67⅔ innings last season for Class A short-season West Virginia. He was named to the designated player poor for Team Colombia in the World Baseball Classic this spring but was not needed for the tournament.
“There’s a lot of things to like with this young man,” Huntington said. “If we continue to develop the changeup, continue to develop the fastball command and repeatability, he could find himself as a Major League starting pitcher for years.”
Other prospects to watch
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 3B, Blue Jays
The 18-year-old son of a 16-year Major League veteran by the same name, Guerrero is batting .317 with a .411 on-base percentage and .883 OPS this season for Class A Lansing. The swing looks familiar, and it plays even in a league where most players are 21 to 24. Guerrero is ranked as Baseball America’s top international prospect.
Bo Bichette, SS, Blue Jays
The only Lugnuts player better than Guerrero this season is 19-year-old Bo Bichette, the son of former All-Star Dante Bichette. The younger Bichette has a 1.068 OPS and will play for the United States in the Futures Game. Since being selected second overall in 2016, Bichette has batted .393 with a 1.094 OPS, which tends to put on on a fast track through the minors.
Brendan Rodgers, SS/2B, Rockies
Rodgers, 20, was drafted third overall out of high school in 2015, two spots behind Vanderbilt shortstop Dansby Swanson, who later was traded from the Arizona Diamondbacks to the Atlanta Braves. Swanson is in the majors. Rodgers is charging. He was promoted to Class AA earlier this season after batting .400 with a 1.119 OPS in 48 games for Class High-A Lancaster.
Yoan Moncada, 2B, White Sox
Moncada, 22, signed with the Boston Red Sox for a $31.5 million bonus in 2015 and was traded to the White Sox last December as part of a three-player package for left-hander Chris Sale. Moncada’s numbers have dipped only a touch this season, as he’s batting .282 with 11 home runs for Class AAA Charlotte. He was the MVP in the Futures Game last year.
Stephen J. Nesbitt: snesbitt@post-gazette.com and Twitter @stephenjnesbitt.
First Published: July 9, 2017, 4:00 a.m.
