Hot Stove: Former West Virginia Black Bears on Several Pirates Prospect Lists

Several former West Virginia Black Bears are moving up on the Pittsburgh Pirates prospect lists. Here is a summary of players who have played in Morgantown from four prospect lists. I have included players who spent rehab assignments with the Black Bears. Click on highlighted players names to see their complete stats at MILB.com.

MLB.com Pirates Top 30 Prospect Watch. See entire Pirates list at this link.

1.  Austin Meadows (rehab 2016, 2017)

2.  Mitch Keller (rehab 2017)

5.  Ke’Bryan Hayes (2015)

6.  Ryan Newman (2015)

7.  Will Craig (2016)

9.  Kevin Kramer (2015, rehab 2017)

16. Luis Escobar (2015-16)

21. Stephen Alemais (2016)

22. Edgar Santana (2015)

23. Brandon Waddell (2015, rehab 2017)

25. Dovydas Neverauskas (rehab 2015)

29. Dario Agrazal (2015)


Fangraphs Top 25 list published on December 28, 2017. 

1.  Mitch Keller

2.  Austin Meadows

5.   Ke’Bryan Hayes

8.   Luis Escobar

9.   Kevin Newman

11. Stephen Alemais

12. Kevin Kramer

17. Will Craig

20. Dovydas Neverauskas

21. Edgar Santana

23. J.T. Brubaker (2015)


Baseball America published their Top Ten Pirates prospects for 2018 in October.  Read the entire article at this link.

1. Mitch Keller

2. Austin Meadows

4. Ke’Bryan Hayes

5. Kevin Newman

7. Luis Escobar


Pirates Prospects Top 50 Prospects. Pirates Prospects is a subscription only site and is highly recommended for Pittsburgh Pirates fans who want to follow what is happening down on the farm throughout the year. The Pirates Prospects 2018 Prospect Guide can be purchased at this link.

1.   Mitch Keller

2.   Austin Meadows

5.   Ke’Bryan Hayes

6.   Kevin Newman

10. Luis Escobar

14. Kevin Kramer

16. Edgar Santana

21. Dario Agrazal

22. J.T. Brubaker

23. Dovydas Neverauskas

24. Will Craig

25. Stephen Alemais

26. Brandon Waddell

36. Tristan Gray (2017)

39. Logan Hill (2015)

44. Deon Stafford (2017)

45. Tanner Anderson (2015)

48. Bligh Madris (2017)

49. Ike Schlabach (2017)

Photo Credit: NY-Penn League News

NY-Penn League News is not affiliated with Minor League Baseball, the New York-Penn League, or the West Virginia Black Bears

My 2018 IBWAA Hall of Fame Ballot

Here is my Internet Baseball Writers Association of America (IBWAA) Hall of Fame (HOF) ballot for 2018.

I took the advice of the great Joe Morgan and didn’t vote for any suspected PED abusers. I won’t debate the issue here. That’s my position and I’m sticking to it. I’ll consider voting for PED users when Shoeless Joe Jackson is eligible for induction to the HOF.

Clicking on each player’s name will take you to Baseball-Reference.com where you can look at their statistics.

Trevor Hoffman

Chipper Jones

Jeff Kent

Fred McGriff

Mike Mussina

Jim Thome

Billy Wagner

Larry Walker

If you are wondering about the IBWAA, here is information from the organization's website:

“The IBWAA seeks neither to replace nor disparage the BBWAA, but does offer distinctions. While the BBWAA requires ten years and hundreds of dollars of paid membership for writers to earn a Hall of Fame vote, the IBWAA has no waiting period, with a $75 lifetime fee.

“In the vast majority of cases, the BBWAA requires the tying of a writer’s online work to a print publication for admission; the IBWAA does not. The IBWAA believes that the hoops an applying writer has to jump through to join the older organization are too many and too narrow, and welcomes all Internet baseball writers. Those with his or her own baseball website of any kind or scope are invited to join, as are those who contribute the written word anywhere within the baseball blogosphere.

"The IBWAA votes for Cooperstown in December, and during September of each championship season holds elections for the Most Valuable Player, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year and Manager of the Year Awards. In 2010, the IBWAA began voting in its own relief pitcher category, establishing the Rollie Fingers American League Relief Pitcher of the Year and the Hoyt Wilhelm National League Relief Pitcher of the Year Awards.

“The IBWAA endeavors to be nimble and inclusive, and encourages members to participate as much or as little as they like. All suggestions are welcome always. Minimum age requirement is 18.

“For more info, please contact IBWAA Director, Howard Cole, info@ibwaa.com."

Photo Credits: IBWAA

 

NY-Penn League News is not affiliated with Minor League Baseball or the New York-Penn League.