Baseball America ranks Ke'Bryan Hayes as Pirates' top prospect, one of top 20 in baseball

A brilliant rookie debut has lifted Ke’Bryan Hayes to rise in Baseball America’s top 100 rankings and become the top prospect for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2021.

Baseball America moved Hayes from No. 52 in 2020 to No. 15 this year, the highest of any Pirates prospect, when it updated its rankings on Monday.

Our 2021 Top ? Prospects list is HERE.

Some notable risers after big years in 2020?

Randy Arozarena (duh)
Triston McKenzie
Ke'Bryan Hayes
Ian Anderson

Full rankings: https://t.co/UfBZeOOnMf#BATop100 pic.twitter.com/BvooeW542o

— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) January 18, 2021

The third baseman, who turns 24 on Jan. 28, won NL rookie of the month honors in September, when he batted .376/.422/.682 with seven doubles, two triples, five home runs and 11 RBIs in 95 plate appearances over 24 games.

“Hayes won’t hit .376 or slug .682 over a full season,” Baseball America wrote, “but his debut nonetheless showed he can be an impact hitter as well as an elite defender at third base.”

Although he has become the Pirates’ everyday starter at third, Hayes retained his rookie eligibility for the ‘21 season because he spent fewer than 45 days on the active major league roster. Right-handed pitcher Mitch Keller, the Pirates’ top prospect from 2018-20, graduated from prospect status after spending last season in the majors. Keller was 1-1 with a 2.91 ERA in 21 2/3 innings over five starts last season.

Three other Pirates prospects cracked Baseball America’s top 100 prospect list:

Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review

Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz celebrates his RBI double against the Tigers Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020, at LECOM Park in Bradenton.

• Oneil Cruz moved up from No. 53 to No. 50, with the publication noting the 6-foot-7 shortstop’s “massive potential” despite an offseason auto accident that killed three people in the Dominican Republic.

New Mexico State Athletics

New Mexico State’s Nick Gonzales was a first-round draft choice of the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 10, 2020.

• Infielder Nick Gonzales, the Pirates’ top draft pick last June, dropped from No. 49 to No. 51 but was called “one of the best pure hitters in the 2020 draft class” by Baseball America.

Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review

Pirates pitcher Quinn Priester throws in the bullpen at Pirate City in Bradenton.

• Right-hander Quinn Priester, their first-round pick in 2019, debuted at No. 58 after spending last summer at the Pirates’ alternate training site in Altoona and shining in the Instructional League this past fall in Bradenton, Fla. Baseball America wrote that “few players garnered more praise” and “evaluators love him.”