By John Perrotto
November 24, 2009


Baseball America's Top 10 Prospects lists are based on projections of a player's long-term worth after discussions with scouting and player-development personnel. All players who haven't exceeded the major league rookie standards of 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched (without regard to service time) are eligible. Ages are as of April 1, 2009.

Scouting reports for the Top 10 Prospects  (How to subscribe)
Pirates Chat  John Perrotto	Pre-Order the 2010 Prospect Handbook 30 scouting reports on every team

TOP TEN PROSPECTS

1. Pedro Alvarez, 3b 2. Jose Tabata, of 3. Tony Sanchez, c 4. Brad Lincoln, rhp 5. Chase D'Arnaud, ss/2b 6. Starling Marte, of 7. Tim Alderson, rhp 8. Zack Von Rosenberg, rhp 9. Rudy Owens, lhp 10. Gorkys Hernandez, of

BEST TOOLS

Best Hitter for Average Jose Tabata Best Power Hitter Pedro Alvarez Best Strike-Zone Discipline Chase d'Arnaud Fastest Baserunner Jose de los Santos Best Athlete Chase d'Arnaud Best Fastball Victor Black Best Curveball Brad Lincoln Best Slider Victor Black Best Changeup Daniel McCutchen Best Control Rudy Owens Best Defensive Catcher Tony Sanchez Best Defensive Infielder Argenis Diaz Best Infield Arm Argenis Diaz Best Defensive Outfielder Gorkys Hernandez Best Outfield Arm Starling Marte

PROJECTED 2013 LINEUP

Catcher Tony Sanchez First Base Jeff Clement Second Base Akinori Iwamura Third Base Pedro Alvarez Shortstop Chase d'Arnaud Left Field Lastings Milledge Center Field Andrew McCutchen Right Field Jose Tabata No. 1 Starter Brad Lincoln No. 2 Starter Charlie Morton No. 3 Starter Ross Ohlendorf No. 4 Starter Zach Duke No. 5 Starter Paul Maholm Closer Victor Black

TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2009 2000 Chad Hermansen, of Out of baseball 2001 J.R. House, c Royals 2002 J.R. House, c Royals 2003 John Van Benchoten, rhp White Sox 2004 John Van Benchoten, rhp White Sox 2005 Zach Duke, lhp Pirates 2006 Neil Walker, c Pirates 2007 Andrew McCutchen, of Pirates 2008 Andrew McCutchen, of Pirates 2009 Pedro Alvarez, 3b Pirates

TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2009 2000 Sean Burnett, lhp Nationals 2001 John Van Benschoten, rhp White Sox 2002 Bryan Bullington, rhp Blue Jays 2003 Paul Maholm, lhp Pirates 2004 Neil Walker, c Pirates 2005 Andrew McCutchen, of Pirates 2006 Brad Lincoln Pirates 2007 Andrew McCutchen, of Pirates 2008 Pedro Alvarez, 3b Pirates 2009 Tony Sanchez, c Pirates

LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY

Pedro Alvarez, 2008 $6,000,000 Bryan Bullington, 2002 $4,000,000 Brad Lincoln, 2006 $2,750,000 Tony Sanchez, 2009 $2,500,000 Daniel Moskos, 2007 $2,475,000

PIRATES LINKS

Pirates' Team Page Pirates Top 10 Scouting Reports  Last Year's Pirates Top 10 Prospects 2009 Draft: Pirates (Basic Database) 2009 Draft: Pirates  (Advanced Database) 2009 Draft Report Cards: Pittsburgh Pirates  Complete Index of Top 10 Prospects Pre-Order the 2010 Prospect Handbook

After Neal Huntington became Pirates general manager late in the 2007 season, it didn't take him long to understand what the organization needed: young talent and lots of it. Pittsburgh not only had a bad major league team, but it also had little talent in the farm system. It made for a deadly mix that appeared to sentence the franchise to losing into perpetuity.

While the Pirates have become the only major North American pro sports team to endure 17-straight losing seasons after finishing 62-99 (the second-worst record in baseball) in 2009, their talent base has improved. Huntington has almost completely stripped the major league roster, trading away as many parts as he could in an effort to acquire prospects. He made seven trades last June and July alone, sending away eight players and getting 15 in return.

By the time the season ended, just five players remained on the major league roster who were on the major league club when Huntington was hired: Matt Capps, Ryan Doumit, Zach Duke, Paul Maholm and Steve Pearce. On the minor league side, just six of the players in the Pirates' top 30 were in the organization when Huntington took over.

Owner Bob Nutting, noted for his penny-pinching ways in his other business holdings, which include newspapers and a ski resort, has held the line on major league salaries. After all the trades, Pittsburgh's payroll was approximately $25 million by the end of last season. However, Nutting has given Huntington expanded budgets in the areas of scouting and player development.

The Pirates have spent more money ($18.7 million) on the last two drafts than any team. They gave out their first major league contract to a draftee, a $6.335 million deal to land No. 2 overall pick Pedro Alvarez in 2008. While they stuck to Major League Baseball's slot recommendation for this year's first-round pick, catcher Tony Sanchez, they gave seven-figure bonuses to sixth-round pick Zack Von Rosenberg and eighth-rounder Colton Cain. In fact, the Pirates have continually exceeded MLB's bonus recommendations under their new administration, ironic considering that club president Frank Coonelly helped to enforce the slotting system when he worked for MLB.

Pittsburgh also opened a $5 million academy in the Dominican Republic last April and has further expanded its international horizons by signing amateurs from Africa, Asia and Europe since Huntington arrived.

Dinesh Patel and Rinku Singh became the first natives of India to play professional baseball when they made their debuts in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League last summer. South African infielder Gift Ngoepe became a sensation when he hit two triples off veteran big leaguer Elmer Dessens in the World Baseball Classic, then later was featured in a lengthy Sports Illustrated profile.

With Baseball America Rookie of the Year Andrew McCutchen emerging in 2009, the Pirates believe they're starting to get the franchise turned around as they try to regain their status in a city where they have been lapped by the defending Super Bowl champion Steelers and defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins. Pittsburgh drew just 1.58 million fans last season, the lowest mark since PNC Park opened in 2001. An angry fan base has waited a long time to have a wining team to cheer, but they're going to have to wait a little longer for the moves below the major league surface to pay off.

Scouting reports for the Top 10 Prospects  (How to subscribe)

Pre-Order the 2010 Prospect Handbook 30 scouting reports on every team