It is far too early to make any final judgments, but let us revisit some of the players that the Pirates drafted in June 2006.
1st Round – Brad Lincoln RHP
Lincoln, being the team’s first round draft choice, naturally received the most media coverage of any player selected in the 2006 draft. After the fourth overall pick was signed, the Pirates assigned Lincoln to their rookie league affiliate in Bradenton. He was good in two short starts and was promoted to Single-A. Upon his arrival in Hickory, Lincoln struggled. He allowed 12 earned runs and 26 hits in 16 innings, and eventually was shut down with an oblique injury. Things got worse in the spring of 2007, as Lincoln battled an arm injury. Eventually, he underwent Tommy John surgery and missed the entire 2007 season. The Pirates expect Lincoln to be ready for the 2008 season, but he remains a huge question mark at this point.
2nd Round – Mike Felix LHP
Felix began his professional career with Williamsport of the New York-Penn League in 2006. He was decent in 13 starts, producing a 3.56 ERA with a K/9 of 9.19. However, his 33 walks in 48 innings was far too high. Felix started 2007 with Hickory, and, pitching mostly out of the bullpen, he allowed 35 earned runs and 44 hits in 35.2 innings. His K/BB ratio was just as ugly at 37/46. When the New York-Penn league began, he was demoted to the Pirates’ State College affiliate. He was relatively better at that level, posting a 5.26 ERA in 25.2 innings. His strikeout numbers rose to 10.87 per nine innings, but his control was still a huge issue. With his 23 walks at State College this past year, he has walked 102 batters in 109.1 professional innings. That number will need to be drastically reduced for Felix to have any impact on the organization.
3rd Round – Shelby Ford 2B
After the draft, Ford was assigned to Williamsport. He was red-hot from the beginning and earned a promotion after hitting .400/.483/.520 in 25 at-bats. He was not nearly as productive at Hickory, batting .269/.333/.448 in 223 at-bats. Ford slumped for the first two months of 2007 at Lynchburg, but was stellar beginning in June. His line was up to .281/.360/.433 when he went down with a back injury in July. He also stole 14 bases on the season without being caught. Defensively, he reduced his error total in 2007. After finishing with 11 errors in 60 games in 2006, he had only five in 90 games at Lynchburg. Ford should start 2008 with Altoona.
4th Round – William Hughes RHP
Hughes began 2006 at Williamsport, and was good in his five starts. He allowed only seven earned runs and 14 hits in 23 innings, and walked only seven. However, he only struck out 11. When he was promoted to Hickory, his walk total ballooned. His BB/9 jumped up to 5.77, and he only struck out 4.66 per nine innings. Unsurprisingly, his ERA leaped up to 5.77. Hughes spent 2007 at Hickory, and was somewhat better the second time around. His walk and strikeout numbers improved and his ERA dropped over a run to 4.64. He is a marginal prospect at best.
5th Round – Patrick Bresnehan RHP
Bresnehan spent 2006 at Williamsport and was effective. He had a 2.25 ERA in 68 innings as both a starter and out of the bullpen. He had a BB/9 of 2.25 and a K/9 of 7.81. He finished strong, allowing zero earned runs in his final 30 innings. Bresnehan began the 2007 season in Lynchburg and was decent, posting a 4.18 ERA in 60.1 innings while working exclusively out of the bullpen. His K/9 jumped to 9.40, but his BB/9 also rose to 4.77. He allowed only three home runs and finished with a WHIP of 1.43. Late in the season, the Pirates promoted him to Altoona. He made only three appearances, allowing three runs on five hits in six innings. Bresnehan should be in the Altoona bullpen in 2008.
Other notable picks
10th Round – Charles Benoit LHP
Benoit posted a 2.71 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP in 79.2 innings with Hickory in 2007. He is 23.
The Pirates continued their tradition of poor drafts in 2006. Lincoln still has a chance to make an impact at the Major League level, but his injury issues have stalled his development. He could be another first round bust for the team. Ford is an interesting player that could someday find a home at PNC Park. Bresnehan and Benoit may be mediocre relievers some day. Other than those few players, the Pirates have very little talent from this draft.

Catching up with Pirate prospects in fall leagues

Many Pittsburgh Pirates (and Pirate prospects) are playing fall ball this season, and for daily coverage of their progress, you’re better off checking out Nancy Zinni’s great work at Sandlot Swashbucklers, Pittsburgh Lumber Co.’s sister site. Not only does Nancy track the AFL, but she’s been keeping up with Neil Walker in the Mexican Pacific League and the handful of players spending time in the Venezuelan Winter League, too.
But just in case you haven’t hit S.S. yet, we’ll help you play catch-up.
Charles Benoit, Blair Johnson, Brad Corley and Alexander Presley are playing with the North Shore Honu of Hawaii Winter Baseball.
Benoit, 23, is a left-handed reliever who spent the 2007 with Hickory. He was drafted in the 10th round in 2006, and spent his first pro season as a swingman with Williamsport. Benoit’s building on his fine regular season in Hawaii—with the Honu, he has a 4-0 record and 2.25 ERA in 10 games (16 innings). He’s finished four games and has saved two. With Hickory, Benoit struck out 83 batters and walked 29 in 79.2 innings; in Hawaii, that ratio’s dropped to 12 K, 8 BB.
Johnson, 23, was selected in the second round of the 2002 draft, but he’s been a bust to this point. In six minor-league seasons, he has a 17-17 record and 4.27 ERA; in 2007, he went 1-4 with a 6.82 ERA in eight starts for Lynchburg. With the Honu, Johnson has pitched in six games (four starts) with a 2-1 record and 3.20 ERA. He’s struck out 22 and walked 7 in 25.1 innings pitched.
Corley, 23 (with a December birthday approaching), was the Pirates’ second round pick in 2005. His counting stats have been fantastic through two minor-league seasons; in 2006, he hit 16 homers and drove in 100 runs for Hickory, and in 2007, he had 14 HR and 89 RBI with Lynchburg. Corley’s plate discipline is lacking, however, and he’s never posted an OPS over .800. He ended the 2007 campaign with Altoona, and should start with the Curve in 2008. In Hawaii, Corley is hitting .247/.280/.390 with 2 HR and 17 RBI in 77 at-bats. He’s struck out 19 times while drawing just three walks.
Presley, 22, replaced Jamie Romak on the Honu roster. (Romak hit .209/.361/.373 in 67 at-bats, but hasn’t played since October 25th.) Presley, an eighth round pick in 2006, spent the 2007 with Hickory—where he did a little bit of everything. He hit .293, drew 45 walks, launched 11 homers and stole 18 bases. At just 5’9″, 180 lbs., Presley projects best as a center fielder. He’s gone 2 for 5 with the Honu.
Patrick Bresnehan, Jesse Chavez, Dave Davidson, Chris Hernandez, Jason Delaney, Andrew McCutchen and Nyjer Morgan are playing with the Phoenix Desert Dogs in the Arizona Fall League.
Bresnehan, 22, was drafted in the fifth round in 2006. He pitched exclusively out of the bullpen with Hickory and Altoona after spending time as a starter with Williamsport in 2006. In five games (4.1 innings) with the Desert Dogs, he has allowed one hit and no runs.
Chavez, 24, was acquired from the Texas Rangers for Kip Wells at the 2006 trade deadline. He was perhaps Indianapolis’ most effective reliever in 2007, throwing 80.1 innings in 46 games, striking out 65 and walking 17 while putting up a 3.92 ERA. He has a pedestrian 6.00 ERA in eight fall-league games.
Davidson, 23, was drafted in the 10th round in 2002. He earned a September call-up to Pittsburgh after starting 2007 with Altoona and spending time in Indianapolis. In five minor-league seasons (116 games), Davidson has a 10-8 record, 3.99 ERA and two-to-one strikeout-to-walk ratio. With Phoenix, he’s allowed two hits and no runs in 6.2 innings of work spread over seven games.
Hernandez, 27, was drafted in the 22nd round in 2003 and is a career minor leaguer. He split time with the Curve and Indians in 2007. In the AFL, he’s pitched eight scoreless innings.
Delaney, 24 (turning 25 next Friday), had a decent 2006 season with Hickory before breaking out in 2007 with Lynchburg. He earned a mid-season promotion to Altoona, where he hit .265/.370/.404. Delaney needs to continue to progress in 2008 to earn a prospect tag. With the Desert Dogs, he’s hitting .286/.392/.381 through 63 at-bats.
McCutchen, 21, was selected 11th overall in 2005. He had an up-and-down 2007, starting slow with Altoona before turning it on and earning a late-season promotion to Indianapolis. McCutchen is still the Pirates’ best prospect—but he’s failed to impress in the AFL. Through 56 at-bats, he’s hitting .250/.354/.321.
Morgan, 27, was drafted by the Pirates in the 33rd round in 2002. He’s a hockey player turned outfielder, and his progression through the minor-league system has been slow and steady. He earned a significant number of at-bats with the Pirates in September after missing much of the 2007 season with a thumb injury. He’s likely battling Nate McLouth for the starting center field job in 2008. In the AFL, Morgan is hitting a paltry .220/.303/.254 through 59 at-bats.
Brian Bixler and Steve Pearce should serve as starters for Team USA as the lineup of minor-league All-Stars finishes up a stint playing against AFL teams before heading overseas to participate in the IABF World Cup in Taiwan.
Bixler, the heir apparent to Jack Wilson’s shortstop throne in Pittsburgh, is hitting .200 with five runs batted in. Pearce, who could earn a starting job in 2008 should Jason Bay or Xavier Nady be traded this off-season, is hitting .364 with five extra-base hits.