Boosted by shortstop Konnor Griffin, baseball’s No. 1 prospect, the Pittsburgh Pirates can claim the sport’s top farm system according to Baseball America rankings released Wednesday.
The Pirates boast four of Baseball America’s top 100 prospects: Griffin, right-handed pitcher Bubba Chandler (No. 15), outfielder Edward Florentino (No. 28) and right-hander Seth Hernandez (No. 38). Chandler made his major league debut last August. Griffin, Florentino and Hernandez are all 19.
“Having the best prospect in baseball in Griffin is a great start, but it’s the depth of top-tier prospects, including Bubba Chandler, Edward Florentino and Seth Hernandez, that puts the Pirates on top of the farm system rankings this year,” Baseball America wrote. “The team’s second-tier depth is less impressive, but it’s better to have elite prospects in quantities than depth.”
It marks the second time the Pirates have been ranked in the top 10 under general manager Ben Cherington, who has selected top 30 prospects Griffin, Hernandez and second baseman Termarr Johnson with first-round draft picks.
The Pirates improved their minor league depth since July by acquiring top 30 prospects in outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia (from Boston), catcher/first baseman Rafael Flores (from the New York Yankees), shortstop Sammy Stafura (Cincinnati), right-handers Jesus Travieso (Boston) and Jeter Martinez (Seattle), and signed a top 20 international prospect in 16-year-old Dominican shortstop Wilton Guerrero Jr.
This marks the third time in Baseball America farm system rankings history that the Pirates have occupied the top spot. They also were No. 1 in 1997, with top 100 prospects in right-handed pitcher Kris Benson (No. 8), outfielders Chad Hermansen (21) and Jose Guillen (24), third baseman Aramis Ramirez (26), first baseman Ron Wright (48), shortstop Abraham Nunez (69) and left-handed pitcher Jimmy Anderson (88).
In 2014, the Pirates had top 100 prospects in outfielder Gregory Polanco (No. 10); right-handed pitchers Jameson Taillon (22), Tyler Glasnow (46) and Nick Kingham (64); outfielder Austin Meadows (49); infielder Alen Hanson (76) and catcher Reese McGuire (81).
