Battling Bucs : Minors Review - Corner Outfield

The distinction between corner outfielders and center fielders here is quite random but in order to avoid a long drawn out piece it is the one I have decided to make to split the outfield group up into two. Most top outfield prospects start off as center fielders and only move to a corner when there is no longer room for them or it is shown they can’t handle the position defensively. Due to this I have kept the corner outfield prospect group quite small having it consist of only a top five with no depth options listed. The depth players will all fall under the center fielder group.

Top 5 Prospects
1. Josh Bell: There has been some talk that in the near future Bell might move to 1B both to try and fill an organizational need and due to his non-elite defense at the position but for now Bell is undoubtedly the top corner outfield prospect. I’m sure most of you know the story about Bell sending out a letter telling teams not to draft him but the Pirates drafting him anyway and signing him for 5 million dollars; it was effectively the straw that broke the camel’s back and lead to the new draft slotting system. Bell ended up missing most of his debut season in 2012 with a knee injury. Bell returned to action in 2013 and except for needing the occasional rest was fine injury wise and overall he put up a solid line. It wasn’t the outstanding performance most were hoping for but he showed some power, decent plate discipline and hit a lot of doubles. Bell still has some time to build some power and if a few of those doubles start clearing the wall he’ll essentially be what most were thinking the Pirates got when drafting him. Bell will likely start the 2014 season in A+ and could be in line for a big season.
2. Andrew Lambo: With such a deep talented pool of young athletic centerfielders the idea that some of these corner outfielders may eventually move to first base is going to be a prominent one and Lambo could very well find himself there this year. The Pirates acquired Lambo in 2010 along with James McDonald in exchange for Octavio Dotel. Lambo quickly became an afterthought as he continued to struggle at the AA level. In 2013 Lambo started his 6^th year at the AA level but due to reaching it so quickly he was still a not so old 24 years old. As we all know Lambo broke out big time last year, got promoted to AAA and then actually started hitting even better. The Pirates called him up to the majors where he received sparse playing time. Some are quick to write off Lambo because of how long he spent at the AA level but he will be just 25 years old this season which isn’t a bad age for a player to be playing his rookie season. The power potential is there and while he’ll always have some faults such as a high strike out rate there is a reason he was once considered a top 50 prospect; the talent to be a solid major league ball player is certainly there. Lambo should compete for the left handed hitting side of both the 1B and RF platoons and right now he would appear to be the favorite for the 1B job however I expect the Pirates to eventually do something to address 1B and if they do that would push Lambo back to AAA where he would hopefully continuing getting reps at the position.
3. Jaff Decker: Decker was acquired this offseason along with Miles Mikolas in exchange for Alex Dickerson. I have seen some very limited talk about Decker possibly playing some 1B but chances are he is going to be used primarily as an outfielder. He was once considered a good prospect with the Padres but most of that luster has worn off and now he is basically just a depth option with good plate discipline and limited power. Decker lost most of his prospect status by struggling mightily in 2012 in AA but he did rebound some with a solid performance in AAA last year. Essentially at this point I see Decker as kind of this year’s Alex Presley. He doesn’t have Presley’s speed but he has better plate discipline and should be able to give better at bats. Much like Presley last year Decker will likely spend most of the year in AAA and be called up to the majors as needed.
4. Willy Garcia: Garcia was signed by the Pirates as an international free agent in 2010. His first two pro seasons went solid enough that in 2012 he was part of the very interesting group of 4 Latin American signees the Pirates pushed to A ball. Two of the four, Hanson and Polanco, broke out that year while the other two, Osuna and Garcia, quietly put up solid seasons. It was a good season for Garcia as he showed off his power potential hitting 18 home runs but he also showed his faults struggling with breaking pitches and striking out over 28% of the time. In 2013 the Pirates pushed Garcia to A+ and he essentially had the exact same season just a level higher. The power was still there but so were the strike out problems. Garcia is a project at this point with solid power, average speed and defense and a plus arm. A lot of hitters with strike zone issues like Garcia have been eaten up by the AA level in the past so he is really going to have to make some adjustments to make it beyond this point as the AA level is where he’ll likely play in 2014.
5. Adalberto Santos: Santos was drafted in the 22^nd round of the 2010 draft as a senior out of college. Very little is expected of players like him but Santos has taken advantage of his opportunities. Santos doesn’t have much power and isn’t particularly strong defensively but one thing he can do is hit and he has done so at every level the Pirates have put him at. Santos started his career off hitting well in short season ball and then do to his age got sent to A+ as a reserve playing but quickly hit himself into a regular role. In 2012 he got sent to AA as a utility player but once again hit himself into a starting role until he hurt his knee and missed two months of the season. He returned later in the year and still hit well albeit not as well as before the injury. The Pirates not having room for Santos at AAA sent him back to AA once again in 2013; there he posted the worst numbers of his pro career but they were still rather solid. Santos not being a particular strong defensive player has been tried at 2B, 3B and the OF corners by the Pirates to increase his versatility as if he has a future in the major leagues it is as a bat first utility player. Santos has the upside of a decent bench bat in the majors so hopefully the Pirates will be able to find a place for him at the AAA level this season.