Pirates' talent pool lies in lower levels

While you can't argue that the Pittsburgh Pirates are in a "down mode" right now when it comes to their farm system, the new administration is more than ready and equipped for the challenge they face to make it strong again.

From the additions of GM Neil Huntington, who served in player development with the Cleveland Indians and learned from the best under his then-boss Mark Shapiro, to fellow Indians transplant Kyle Stark to "young veteran" scouting director Greg Smith, over from Detroit, it's clear that it's time to move forward.

The presence in our "10 Spot" of three members of the 2007 draft class as well as a 2006 draftee who has not thrown a pro pitch since August of that year is evidence of how far down the line the organization has to look right now.

But the good news for Pirates fans who want more immediate gratification is the pending arrival of recent first-rounders Andrew McCutchen and Neil Walker as well as two guys who will be fun to watch in the bigs in 2008, charismatic base-burning center fielder Nyjer Morgan in the outfield and MiLB.com's 2007 Minor League Player of the Year, right fielder/first baseman Steven Pearce.

Brian Bixler, SS/2B
A second-rounder out of Eastern Michigan, where he won the NCAA batting crown in '04 by hitting .453, Bixler was second in the organization with 28 steals in 2007, hitting .274 with five homers and 51 RBIs at Triple-A Indianapolis. He was named to Team USA in the Futures Game and the International League All-Star squad.

Brad Corley, OF
Corley was drafted in the second round of the 2005 Draft out of Mississippi State, having played his high school ball in Kentucky, where he was the high school player of the year in '02.

ON THE VERGE
Here are a few players on the brink of breaking into the Major Leagues:

• Evan Meek, RHP -- The second overall pick in the Rule 5 draft, Meek could be the latest Rule 5 success story. He has great stuff and a live arm and seems to finally have mastered command issues. In a wide-open bullpen situation on a team with little to lose, he could have a chance to really shine.

• Nyjer Morgan, OF -- For now, the 33rd-round draft-and-follow pickfrom 2002 could win the starting center field job. Once Andrew McCutchen is brought up, look for Morgan to slide over to left. He swiped 26 steals in just 44 games at Triple-A last year, missing much of the season with a thumb injury.

• Steven Pearce, 1B/RF -- Our MILB.com Player of the Year in 2007 combined to hit .333 with 31 homers and 113 RBIs at three levels before coming up to the bigs and hitting .294. Though he doesn't have a starting job, he should see enough time between the two positions to continue to show his impact potential.

He has a plus arm and gap power, hitting .285 with 14 homers and 89 RBIs at Class A Advanced Lynchburg last season. An aggressive hitter, he needs to work on plate discipline as he moves up.
Audio: Corley clears the bases

Marcus Davis, OF
A sleeper pick for our "10 Spot," the 18th-round 2007 pick out of Alcorn State enters his first full season with a high ceiling and all the tools.

Though he batted just .232 in his debut at Class A Short-Season State College, he showed his stuff with eight homers and 15 steals after having led the conference with 16 home runs.
Audio: Davis homers for the Spikes

Shelby Ford, 2B
A middle infielder with considerable pop, Ford hit .281 with five homers, 55 RBIs and 14 steals in his first full season at Lynchburg, missing the last month because of back trouble.

A third-rounder in 2006 out of Oklahoma State, Ford is a switch-hitter who is more than solid defensively.
Audio: Ford parks a solo shot

• Monday, Feb. 25: Chicago Cubs
• Tuesday, Feb. 26: Milwaukee Brewers
• Wednesday, Feb. 27: Cincinnati Reds
• Thursday, Feb. 28: Astros and Pirates
• Friday, Feb. 29: St. Louis Cardinals
• Saturday, March 1: Baltimore Orioles
• Sunday, March 2: Tampa Bay Rays
• Monday, March 3: Boston Red Sox
• Tuesday, March 4: Toronto Blue Jays
• Wednesday, March 5: New York Yankees
• Thursday, March 6: Los Angeles Angels
• Friday, March 7: Seattle Mariners
• Saturday, March 8: Oakland Athletics
• Sunday, March 9: Texas Rangers
• Monday, March 10: New York Mets
• Tuesday, March 11: Atlanta Braves
• Wednesday, March 12: Philadelphia Phillies
• Thursday, March 13: Nationals and Marlins
• Friday, March 14: Cleveland Indians
• Saturday, March 15: Kansas City Royals
• Sunday, March 16: Minnesota Twins
• Monday, March 17: Detroit Tigers
• Tuesday, March 18: Chicago White Sox
• Wednesday, March 19: Colorado Rockies
• Thursday, March 20: Arizona Diamondbacks
• Friday, March 21: Los Angeles Dodgers
• Saturday, March 22: San Francisco Giants
• Sunday, March 23: San Diego Padres

Brad Lincoln, RHP
Due to Tommy John surgery in April 2007, the 2006 first-rounder out of Houston pitched only 24 innings that summer between the Gulf Coast League and Class A Hickory and did not see the mound in 2007. His timetable for return remains up in the air but there is talk that he will be ready to go when the season begins.

When healthy, Lincoln dominated with a fastball in the low-to-mid 90s and a plus curveball, coupled with a fearless attitude. With the comeback period for Tommy John generally considered to be between 12-18 months, it will be a little while before he can be considered back to form. But it should be worth the wait.

Andrew McCutchen, OF
Not just the top prospect in the system, McCutchen is widely regarded as one of the most promising outfielders in the game since being taken with the 11th overall pick in 2005 out of high school in Florida.

Just 21, he is an outstanding athlete on both sides of the game, a pure center fielder with speed and solid power potential while being a standout on defense.

Though he had a slow start at Double-A Altoona last year, hitting just .189 in April and .230 in May, he turned it around, batting over .300 from July on, adding 10 homers, 48 RBIs and 17 steals. He moved up to Indianapolis where he hit .313 in a brief taste of the top Minor League level.
Video: McCutchen on ATM
Audio: McCutchen hits a solo shot

Daniel Moskos, LHP
When the Pirates took the Clemson ace with the fourth overall pick last spring, it was a somewhat controversial choice with players such as Georgia Tech catcher Matt Wieters still on the board.

But the club converted him to short relief and could have themselves a fine closer. The 21-year-old has a plus fastball and slider, and he adds a curveball and changeup to his repertoire. At State College, he posted a 4.26 ERA, striking out 13 in as many innings.

Jamie Romak, OF
Romak is similar to Corley in many ways, an outfielder with power potential who needs to work on plate discipline. He's got raw power to all fields and a legit arm for right field.

A 2003 fourth-rounder out of high school in Canada by Atlanta, he came over to the Pirates via trade along with Adam LaRoche. Between Hickory and Lynchburg in 2007, he hit .256 with 20 homers and 60 RBIs.
Audio: Romak goes yard twice

Neil Walker, 3B
The hometown kid from Pittsburgh was the club's top pick in 2004 as a catcher, but was converted to third base at the beginning of 2007. His progress has been impressive, thanks to his natural talent and work ethic.

The son of a former Major League pitcher, the switch-hitting Walker batted .288 with 13 homers and 66 RBIs at Altoona in '07 and should continue his development at Indianapolis to start the '08 season. But don't be surprised to see him back in his hometown before long.
Audio: Walker hits a grand slam
Audio: Walker's double clears the bases

Duke Welker, LHP
Welker, the Pirates' 6-foot-7 second-round pick last spring out of Arkansas, was shut down in August with elbow soreness but is expected to be fine when the bell rings this April.

Throwing a fastball in the low 90s and working on refining his secondary pitches, he posted a 2.35 ERA in seven starts at State College, striking out 27 in 31 innings.
Audio: Welker strikes out his fifth

James Boone, OF
Injuries have kept the 2005 third-rounder out of Missouri from enjoying a full season and putting up the numbers. But most folks feel that if the switch-hitter can stay off the DL, he could be a quick mover.

He started '07 at Hickory after playing just 28 games there in 2006, hitting .327 with four homers and 17 RBIs in 26 games. He then moved up to Lynchburg where he finished the second half on the DL once again. Between the two stops he hit .281 with 10 homers and 51 RBIs in just 77 games.
Audio: Boone doubles for the Hillcats

Jason Delaney, 1B
The Boston College product, drafted in the 12th round of 2005, may have been overshadowed by teammates Pearce and McCutchen at Lynchburg and Altoona, but he still combined to hit .304 with 16 homers and 79 RBIs, finishing third in the system in batting average among full-season players.

SS Brian Friday (third round) is an outstanding defensive shortstop who was slowed during the season by an ankle injury but still hit .295 with two homers and 13 RBIs at State College. ... OF Quincy Latimore (fourth) is a toolsy high school pick from North Carolina who hit .257 with three homers, 17 RBIs and 13 steals in the Gulf Coast League. ... LHP Tony Watson (ninth) has a plus changeup which offsets a fastball that barely touches 90. The Nebraska product was 7-2 with a 2.78 ERA between State College and Hickory, striking out 58 while walking just eight between the two stops. ... OF Keanon Simon (25th) hit .335 at State College, which led the organization.

Organizational Player of the Year: Marcus Davis
Because I suspect that McCutchen and Walker will be up soon enough to keep them from racking up full-season stats (but not soon enough to qualify for NL Rookie of the Year honors), I'm looking for this toolsy sleeper to take the South Atlantic League by storm in Hickory.

Organizational Pitcher of the Year: Daniel Moskos
Look for the '07 first rounder to dominate at all levels in the back end of the bullpen.

Comeback Player of the Year: James Boone
His name might as well be "James Boone If Only He Could Stay Healthy." I look forward to him erasing that addendum and showing what he can do in a full season.

Top Candidate for NL Rookie of the Year: Evan Meek
There are several hitters who could contend (Pearce, Morgan, McCutchen) but all of their situations are contingent upon what happens with other players. As a Rule 5 pick who would draw a line of bidders were he waived, and a club that can afford to let its kids play, look for Meek to post some very impressive numbers out of the pen.

"The public's perception is that there is nothing here, and I think there is more here than the public thinks. There is some potential here in the system, and I think it's up to us to make sure that guys reach that potential." -- Player Development Director Kyle Stark to MLB.com.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.