Polcovich surprised everyone in '97; first, by getting to
Pittsburgh at all, and then by putting up good numbers there until his season
was ended with a severely sprained ankle. In the last offseason (96-97),
he almost decided to retire after the Bucs didn't even
invite him to the major league spring training camp. He decided
to give it one last shot and made it to the show. He'll get
a chance to win the starting job this year as the Pirates now
say they don't plan on signing a free agent SS. His main
competition will be Lou Collier. If Polcovich is not the starter, he'll
almost definitely make the team as a backup infielder.
AB H 2B 3B HR BB SO BA/OBP/SLG
92 AA 35 6 0 0 0 4 4 171/293/171
A 153 40 6 2 0 18 30 261/369/327
93 A 48 13 2 0 0 7 8 271/357/313
AA 11 3 0 0 0 1 1 273/333/273
A+ 282 72 10 3 1 49 42 255/384/323
94 AA 406 95 14 2 2 38 70 234/311/293
95 AA 221 70 8 0 3 14 29 317/369/394
AAA 213 60 8 1 3 11 32 282/336/371
96 AAA 336 92 21 3 1 18 49 274/335/363
97 AA 50 16 5 0 3 10 4 320/452/600
AAA 62 19 4 0 1 1 7 306/323/419
MLB 245 67 16 1 4 21 45 273/350/396
Lou Collier: 24-8/21/73; #31 '92, Triton,IL(JC)
SS/2B, R-R, 5-10 170
A good fielding SS (especially his arm), he's consistently
been above average offensively (for a SS) in the minors. He'll
likely develop into an above average middle infielder at his
peak, but that may not be good enough to ever get him a shot
in Pittsburgh's starting lineup. If he doesn't beat out Polcovich
this year for the starting job, then he may get squeezed out in the future
by Abraham Nunez. Though Collier had a very good '97 in Calgary,
his star has dropped in many people's eyes because of his poor
showing at the plate during his tour in Pittsburgh. Considering the
sporadic manner in which he received a very limited number of ABs
in Pgh, I don't see it as a fair criticism. On the other hand,
a fair criticism is that he's just consistently been a little
above average every year, he's never broken out and starred
at any level, nor has he developed the power hinted at in '94.
In September, he appeared to be the favored defensive replacement
at SS, so the Pirates coaching staff think of him highly in that
area. If he doesn't beat out Polcovich for the starter's job, it's
still likely he'll make the team as a backup, though that's far
from a definite.
AB H 2B 3B HR BB SO BA/OBP/SLG
93 A- 201 61 6 2 1 12 31 303/356/368
94 A 318 89 17 4 7 25 53 280/345/425
A+ 158 42 4 1 6 15 29 266/348/418
95 A+ 399 110 19 3 4 51 60 278/365/368
96 AA 443 124 20 3 3 48 73 280/355/359
97 AAA 397 131 31 5 1 37 47 330/393/441
MLB 37 5 0 0 0 1 11 135/158/135
1997 Scouting Report
Abraham Nunez: 22-3/16/76; ND '94 (Toronto); Dom. Rep.
SS/2B, S-R, 5-11 170
Considered the Pirates SS of the future, injuries to
other players at the major league level and Nunez's
surprisingly good hitting, brought him up to the majors
much sooner than expected. He was acquired from the Blue Jays in
a blockbuster 9-player trade last winter. Prior to '97, Nunez' highest
level was just short-season A ball. He began the '97 season at high A hitting
decently, then moved up to AA where he went on a tear
hitting close to .400 for the first month there. He was called up
to Pittsburgh to fill in at SS between Polcovich's injury
and the trade to get Shawon Dunston (mid to late August). Nunez
remained on the roster through Sepetmeber. He is very smooth defensively;
the only thing keeping him in the minors is his batting. If he
can improve his batting eye a little more (say to the level
he showed in the Dominican), he could become a very good
leadoff hitter. He has excellent speed, though he needs to
cut down on his number of Caught Stealings. I expect that he'll start '98
at AAA. I'm guessing that the Pirates expect he'll be their
starting SS by '99 or 2000.
AB H 2B 3B HR BB SO BA/OBP/SLG
94 DSL 188 47 5 0 0 42 37 250/387/277
95 DSL 186 56 10 3 4 30 27 301/398/452
96 A- 297 83 6 4 3 31 43 279/348/357
97 A+ 304 79 9 4 3 23 47 260/313/345
AA 198 65 6 1 1 20 28 328/385/384
MLB 40 9 2 2 0 3 10 225/289/375
AFL 103 23 1 1 0 3 16 223/245/252
Both Kevin Elster and Shawon Dunston are free agents this
winter. Neither shortstop is expected to resign with the Bucs.
Calgary AAA
Brandon Cromer was the only SS at Calgary who didn't
play higher in the organization in '97. He was dropped from the 40-man
roster in December to make room for Doug Strange; Cromer was picked up on
waivers by the Florida Marlins. Cromer had been part of the blockbuster
9-player deal with the Blue Jays in late-'96, but his stock had dropped
in the organization after a disappointing '97 campaign
(AA 228/326/394; AAA 232/288/421).
Carolina AA
Chris Miyake: 24-5/18/74; #22 '95; UC-San Diego
SS/2B, R-R, 6-2 185
Miyake is beginning to look like a utility minor league
IF'er. He has the glove to play SS, but doesn't have the
bat or the speed to get him noticed beyond that. Most
likely, he'll start the season at Lynchburg though he
may be in Carolina as a utility IF'er.
AB H 2B 3B HR BB SO BA/OBP/SLG
95 A- 227 70 6 5 2 12 31 308/355/405
96 A 367 88 12 0 2 22 55 240/285/289
97 A+ 288 72 14 1 2 28 57 250/319/326
AA 9 0 0 0 0 0 4 000/000/000
HAW 38 10 1 0 0 5 6 263/356/289
Randy Brown: 28 - 5/1/70; #28 '89 D&F (BoSox); San Jacinto,TX (JC)
SS/2B, R-R, 5-11 170
Brown was signed by the Bucs as a minor league free agent to fill a utility
IF position either at AAA or AA. Overall, he's a pretty poor hitter,
though in the last two seasons he's shown decent pop with the bat
particularly for a middle IF. There are extremely low odds that he'll ever
make the majors as a player, but could be a coach in the future.
He is likely to start the year at AA, though he may be a utility IF at
AAA.
AB H 2B 3B HR BB SO BA/OBP/SLG
90 A- 212 50 4 0 1 17 47 236/305/269
91 R 143 27 7 0 0 23 31 189/308/238
A+ 135 21 3 0 0 16 42 156/250/178
92 A+ 430 101 18 2 2 28 115 235/288/300
93 A+ 483 114 25 7 2 25 127 236/290/329
94 AA 389 87 14 2 8 30 102 224/285/332
95 AAA 212 53 6 1 2 10 53 250/294/316
96 AAA 6 1 0 0 0 1 1 167/286/167
AA 245 73 15 2 11 27 56 298/379/510
97 AA 396 99 13 4 11 47 124 250/336/386
Lynchburg A+ (full season, high)
Julio Germosen: 21-9/28/76; FA 9/93; Dom. Rep.
SS/2B, R-R, 6-0 150
Germosen was signed from the Dominican Republic as he turned
17. He's shown a little power, but he doesn't draw walks and
hasn't hit for a good BA yet. He will probably be in Augusta
in '98 as a utility IF, though he may be out of the system.
AB H 2B 3B HR BB SO BA/OBP/SLG
94 DSL 208 42 7 0 4 21 59 202/275/293
95 DSL 238 55 9 3 3 21 61 231/293/332
96 R 123 30 4 2 1 8 24 244/295/333
97 A- 115 23 3 3 3 7 34 200/250/357
A+ 6 1 0 0 0 1 2 167/286/167
Augusta A (full season, low)
Luis Lorenzana: 19-11/9/78; #3 '96; Montgomery HS (CA)
SS/2B, R-R, 6-0 165
Lorenzana was a high draft pick in '96 who has been playing
at fairly high levels for his age. His hitting hasn't really
been strong, though he's shown the ability to draw walks. I
assume his defense is strong or he wouldn't be playing at the
levels where he's overmatched at the plate. He may
start the year at Augusta (perhaps the starting 2B),
but there's equally a good chance that he'll be in Lynchburg
at SS.
AB H 2B 3B HR BB SO BA/OBP/SLG
96 GCL 53 8 1 0 0 12 8 151/313/170
A- 128 25 8 1 0 16 26 195/293/273
97 A 288 68 11 1 0 31 66 236/314/281
Erie A- (short season)
Kevin Haverbusch: 22-6/16/76; #20 '97; U. of Maryland
SS, R-R, 6-3 185
An excellent hitter at Maryland (but with some questions
concerning his defensive capabilities), he appears to be a steal for
the 20th round of the '97 draft.
His college scouting report was much the same; extremely good
bat, but the defense is still a question mark. At Erie, he turned in
a great season at the plate.
He was the MVP of the NYP in '97. He hits for
average and superb power, though I'd like to see him bring up
his BB rate. If he's moved from SS, it would likely be to 3B
or the OF (i.e. his range seems to be the question about his defense).
He will probably start the year at Augusta at SS, but the Bucs may
try and promote him aggressively to Lynchburg (perhaps as a 3Bman).
AB H 2B 3B HR BB SO BA/OBP/SLG
97 NCAA 84 16 406/464/710
A- 237 74 15 2 10 13 37 312/353/519
Ambioris Cleto: 18-1/5/80; FA 8/96; Dom. Rep.
SS, R-R, 6-0 160
Cleto bypassed the Dominican Summer League, so I assume the
Pirates are high on this kid. He didn't really hit well in '97, but
drew walks at a good rate and was called up to Erie late in
the year to be a defensive replacement in the playoffs.
He has potential to be a prospect depending on how his
hitting develops. He'll probably be the SS in Erie in '98.
AB H 2B 3B HR BB SO BA/OBP/SLG
97 R 101 19 4 0 1 15 27 188/322/257
A- 22 4 0 0 0 3 11 182/308/182
Gulf Coast (Rookie League)
Victor Gutierrez: 20-12/23/77; FA 11/94; Dom. Rep.
SS/2B R-R, 5-11 170
Gutierrez had a great season in '96 in the DSL, but
in '97 hit much more like his '95 season. He did show a
good BB rate and appears to be a decent basestealer.
He split his time between SS and 2B, so if he has a future,
it's not clear at which MI position it will be. He's
a little old for Rookie ball, so you may see him
start '98 in Augusta, but equally likely to start
in Erie.
AB H 2B 3B HR BB SO BA/OBP/SLG
95 DSL 150 37 3 1 3 17 21 247/323/340
96 DSL 278 100 20 1 3 32 41 360/426/471
97 R 156 37 1 1 1 20 27 237/328/276
Projections:
| Bucs: | Collier | Polcovich
|
| Nashville: | Nunez
|
| Carolina: | Brown | Miyake
|
| Lynchburg: | Lorenzana | Haverbusch
|
| Augusta: | Germosen
|
| Erie: | Cleto | Gutierrez
|
| Gulf Coast League: | draft pick
|
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