For the third consecutive season, the Pittsburgh Pirates hosted a Wild Card Game and for the second straight season they were eliminated at home. First it was the eventual World Series winning San Francisco Giants and then it was the upstart Chicago Cubs. But look on the bright side Pirates’ fans, with a lineup centered around Andrew McCutchen and Starling Marte, and a rotation with Gerrit Cole and Francisco Liriano, it seems to be almost a guarantee that the Pirates will be right back in the middle of the pennant chase in 2016.

While the Cubs are generally regarded as the youngest team in the NL Central and the most loaded in terms of prospect depth, many often forget just how much talent the Pirates possess. With a potentially elite arm in Tyler Glasnow and a future middle of the order bat in Austin Meadows, the future looks bright for the Pirates who should remain competitive for years to come. The Pirates may not have as deep of a farm system as the Brewers, but there are some potentially elite talents on this list and several other great names that could be major contributors both to the Pirates and to fantasy owners in the near future.

And just a quick point for fans of NL Central teams: the Pirates could eventually have a rotation with Gerrit Cole, Tyler Glasnow, Jameson Taillon, and Nick Kingham, and a lineup with Andrew McCutchen, Austin Meadows, Starling Marte, and Josh Bell. If that does not give you nightmares, I don’t know what will.

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Pittsburgh Pirates Top 10 Dynasty Prospects

These are the top ten prospects for the Pittsburgh Pirates in terms of fantasy production in the next few seasons.

1. Tyler Glasnow (SP, AAA)
Stats: 41.0 IP, 2.20 ERA, 2.82 FIP, 10.54 K/9, 4.83 BB/9, 0.22 HR/9
ETA: 2016
When it’s all said and done, Tyler Glasnow could go down as the steal of the 2011 draft. Taken in the fifth round with the 152nd overall pick, Glasnow has continued to develop as a pitcher to the point where he now looks like a future ace. His repertoire is elite: an upper-90s fastball, a wipeout curveball, and a changeup that has developed to the point where it can be relied on as a dependable third pitch. He has scuffled with command at times, but has made progress over the past few seasons to where he posted a 2.71 BB/9 in 63.0 IP at Double-A last season. Glasnow will not break camp with the team, but he should be a factor in the Pirates’ rotation later this season. He is a future top of the rotation starter and an absolute must-own in dynasty leagues.

2. Austin Meadows (OF, AA)
Stats: (from A+) 556 PA, .307/.357/.407, 7 HR, 20 SB, 7.4% BB rate, 14.2% K rate
ETA: 2017
If it weren’t for a crowded outfield already, I imagine there would be some imagining a late season promotion for Austin Meadows as he continues his development. There is a lot to like with Meadows’ bat. The ninth overall pick in 2013 has easy power that most expect to produce 20 home runs per season and enough speed to exceed his home run total every season, making him a future 20/20 candidate. His well disciplined approach to the plate and smooth swing have many believing that he should also be a lock to hit .290+ in the majors. Meadows will eventually find his way into the Pirates lineup and should be owned in all dynasty leagues.

3. Josh Bell (1B, AAA)
Stats: 145 PA, .347/.441/.504, 2 HR, 2 SB, 14.5% BB rate, 10.3% K rate
ETA: 2016
The Pirates have had a big hole at first base for a long time that they thought Pedro Alvarez would be able to fill, but now it looks like Josh Bell is going to be their franchise first baseman. Defensively, Bell won’t win any awards, but his bat is what makes him such a promising prospect. Bell has an advanced approach at the plate and a quick, consistent bat that ensures owners and fans that he is more than capable of hitting for a high average. The question with Bell has always been about how much power he will develop. The 23-year-old switch-hitter hit 13 home runs in 2013, but since has not hit more than nine homers in a single season. Most scouts believe he will eventually display more pop, but regardless Bell is a low risk first baseman who should be expected by fantasy owners to consistently produce at the dish.

4. Reese McGuire (C, A+)
Stats: 411 PA, .254/.301/.294, 0 HR, 14 SB, 6.3% BB rate, 9.5% K rate
ETA: 2018
There is a lot to put into consideration into wondering whether or not Reese McGuire is worth owning in dynasty leagues. On one hand, he is a surefire bet to make the majors because of his defense and he could develop into a catcher capable of hitting .275+ every season. On the other hand, McGuire has not torn up any level offensively. In my opinion, McGuire’s solid approach to the plate should translate well to the majors and I think that a catcher with his upside is absolutely worth owning. He has a floor of a Tucker Barnhart player with limited offensive ability and a great glove with a ceiling of a left-handed version of Francisco Cervelli with a solid batting average and limited power.

5. Jameson Taillon (SP, NA)
Stats: NA
ETA: 2017
Perhaps I’m being too hard on Jameson Taillon, putting him this low on the list, but injuries are a major concern with him. If he can stay healthy, Taillon has as much potential to be a top of the rotation pitcher as any other prospect in baseball. Prior to all the injuries, Taillon could touch the mid-upper 90s with his fastball with one of the best curveballs in the minors and a changeup that is above-average. His control was also always nothing if not consistent which does a lot to encourage fantasy owners. Though he has missed the past two seasons due to injury, Taillon has a very high ceiling and owners willing to take the risk should definitely own him in dynasty leagues.

6. Harold Ramirez (OF, A+)
Stats: 344 PA, .337/.399/.458, 4 HR, 22 SB, 7.3% BB rate, 14.0% K rate
ETA: 2017
There is a lot to like with the bat of Harold Ramirez, but unlike with Austin Meadows, playing time could be an issue. Ramirez has all the tools to be a great centerfielder: great speed, the ability to hit for a .300+ batting average, and enough pop to hit 10 home runs in a season. The problem with Ramirez comes from the fact that his bat will not force any of the great four outfielders ahead of him out of the way which could mean that he (or two of the outfielders in front of him) will need to be traded. His offensive upside is enough to make him worth owning in keeper leagues, but owners should hope that he gets traded soon.

7. Alen Hanson (2B, AAA)
Stats: 529 PA, .263/.313/.387, 6 HR, 35 SB, 7.0% BB rate, 17.2% K rate
ETA: 2016
If not for Josh Harrison, Alen Hanson would be the starting second baseman for the Pirates in 2016. Hanson looks like he could be an all-around great contributor at second base for dynasty owners. He has enough power to potentially hit 10 home runs per season, enough speed to steal 25+ bases per year, and a quick bat that should help him hit above .260 every season. Hanson also possesses a solid enough approach to the plate which helps give him a relatively high floor, making him an attractive option at second base for dynasty owners. The switch-hitting second baseman will likely see at least a little bit of time this season in the majors and should be a full time starter in 2017 if the Pirates make some changes with their middle infielders.

8. Ke’Bryan Hayes (3B, A-)
Stats: (from R) 175 PA, .333/.434/.375, 0 HR, 7 SB, 12.6% BB rate, 13.7% K rate
ETA: 2020
Taken with the 32nd overall pick in the 2015 draft, Ke’Bryan Hayes looks like a future impact bat at the hot corner for the Pirates. Though he does not have much experience yet under his belt, scouts praise his overall hitting ability which scouts see as eventually being capable of hitting above .290 with 15+ home runs per season. To put things in perspective, his batting style is similar to that of Josh Bell where scouts believe the power will eventually develop, but his ability to hit for a high average will be what carries him through the minors. Hayes is a long ways away from the majors, but he is one of the best third base prospects in the minors and deserves to be owned in most dynasty leagues.

9. Nick Kingham (SP, AAA)
Stats: 31.1 IP, 4.31 ERA, 3.22 FIP, 9.19 K/9, 2.01 BB/9, 0.86 HR/9
ETA: 2017
Nick Kingham looked to be on pace for a call up in 2015 before Tommy John surgery ended his season prematurely. Though he does not have the ceiling of Jameson Taillon or Tyler Glasnow, Kingham still appears to be worth owning in dynasty leagues. His repertoire features a low-90s fastball, an outstanding changeup, and an average curveball. He will probably only be a middle of the rotation starter for the Pirates once he recovers from surgery, but he looks like a dependable enough starter to warrant dynasty owners picking him up.

10. Kevin Newman (SS, A)
Stats: 110 PA, .306/.376/.367, 0 HR, 6 SB, 8.2% BB rate, 7.3% K rate
ETA: 2018
Kevin Newman could eventually develop into the Pirates’ everyday shortstop, but the jury is out on how much fantasy value he will provide. Though he could hit .270 every season, he has no power whatsoever and has very limited speed. There are better shortstop prospects available for dynasty owners, but Newman could be worth owning if your team does not possess a lot of middle infield depth.

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