Minor League expert Kevin Goldstein recently unveiled his top 10 Pirate prospects in his latest Future Shock. It’s a pretty encouraging list as the Pirates have one “excellent” prospect and two “very good” prospects.
Centerfielder Andrew McCutchen tops the list as the lone excellent prospect. He tore it up at Low A and then did it again when he got promoted to Double A. He just turned 20 so I wouldn’t be surprised if he starts at Double A this year, where he got only 87 at bats in 2006.
Rounding out the top three were Brad Lincoln and Brent Lillibridge. Lincoln got limited time in the Rookie League and Low A and he’s 21 so we probably won’t be seeing him with the big league club for a couple of years. Lillibridge hit both Low A and High A pitching well last year and shouuld start the season at Double A. Goldstein said Lillibridge could be potential sleeper.
