Evaluating The Pittsburgh Pirates’ Top 10 Prospects Going Into 2016 Spring Training

10. Cole Tucker, Shortstop

Tucker suffered a labrum injury last year that could keep him out for most of 2016, but he's still a young and promising shortstop prospect. Assuming he returns to full health, Tucker should have no problem handling shortstop defensively. Before the injury last year, he held his own offensively against older competition, and he also brings speed to the table. Once Tucker is healthy, he'll be an intriguing prospect to watch.

10. Cole Tucker, Shortstop

Tucker suffered a labrum injury last year that could keep him out for most of 2016, but he's still a young and promising shortstop prospect. Assuming he returns to full health, Tucker should have no problem handling shortstop defensively. Before the injury last year, he held his own offensively against older competition, and he also brings speed to the table. Once Tucker is healthy, he'll be an intriguing prospect to watch.

9. Ke'Bryan Hayes, Third Base

Hayes is 19 and years away from the majors, but he has a chance to be an even better player than his father, Charlie, who played 14 seasons in the big leagues. Like his father, he doesn't run well, but he is advanced for a hitter who was in high school a year ago and should grow into some power as his body matures. A lot can go wrong in the next few years, but Hayes could ultimately become Pittsburgh's third baseman of the future.

9. Ke'Bryan Hayes, Third Base

Hayes is 19 and years away from the majors, but he has a chance to be an even better player than his father, Charlie, who played 14 seasons in the big leagues. Like his father, he doesn't run well, but he is advanced for a hitter who was in high school a year ago and should grow into some power as his body matures. A lot can go wrong in the next few years, but Hayes could ultimately become Pittsburgh's third baseman of the future.

8. Nick Kingham, Pitcher

Kingham underwent Tommy John surgery last May, but prior to that he was on the cusp of the big leagues. He may not return until midseason, but when fully healthy Kingham has a mid-90s fastball, a pair of viable secondary pitches and excellent control. Even if it takes him until 2017 to get it all back after surgery, Kingham will surely be a useful big league pitcher for the Pirates, and with a little luck, he'll reach Pittsburgh by the end of 2016.

8. Nick Kingham, Pitcher

Kingham underwent Tommy John surgery last May, but prior to that he was on the cusp of the big leagues. He may not return until midseason, but when fully healthy Kingham has a mid-90s fastball, a pair of viable secondary pitches and excellent control. Even if it takes him until 2017 to get it all back after surgery, Kingham will surely be a useful big league pitcher for the Pirates, and with a little luck, he'll reach Pittsburgh by the end of 2016.

7. Reese McGuire, Catcher

McGuire is one of the top catching prospects in all of baseball, as he has the tools to be an above-average defensive catcher, including a great arm that can control a running game. As a hitter, his development lags behind, so it may be another couple of years until he's ready for the big leagues. If he can improve as a hitter, McGuire could be Pittsburgh's catcher of the future, but that may not be for a few years.

7. Reese McGuire, Catcher

McGuire is one of the top catching prospects in all of baseball, as he has the tools to be an above-average defensive catcher, including a great arm that can control a running game. As a hitter, his development lags behind, so it may be another couple of years until he's ready for the big leagues. If he can improve as a hitter, McGuire could be Pittsburgh's catcher of the future, but that may not be for a few years.

6. Harold Ramirez, Outfield

Ramirez has been held back by injuries the past couple of seasons, but when healthy he's produced, hitting .337/.399/.458 in 80 games at Advanced-A in 2015. He's a great athlete who has a chance to be both a leadoff hitter and solid defensive center fielder. He still has some maturing to do, and there's no need for the Pirates to rush him, but less than two years from now, Ramirez could be another athletic and talented homegrown outfielder in Pittsburgh.

6. Harold Ramirez, Outfield

Ramirez has been held back by injuries the past couple of seasons, but when healthy he's produced, hitting .337/.399/.458 in 80 games at Advanced-A in 2015. He's a great athlete who has a chance to be both a leadoff hitter and solid defensive center fielder. He still has some maturing to do, and there's no need for the Pirates to rush him, but less than two years from now, Ramirez could be another athletic and talented homegrown outfielder in Pittsburgh.

5. Jameson Taillon, Pitcher

Taillon is another prospect coming back from injury, having not pitched since the 2013 season. When healthy, Taillon has the kind of stuff that's good enough to pitch at the top of a big league rotation, and he did reach Triple-A at the end of 2013, so once he's back to full health he won't be far from the majors. If he gets back on the mound in 2016, there's a chance he can help the Pirates in their rotation the second half of the season.

5. Jameson Taillon, Pitcher

Taillon is another prospect coming back from injury, having not pitched since the 2013 season. When healthy, Taillon has the kind of stuff that's good enough to pitch at the top of a big league rotation, and he did reach Triple-A at the end of 2013, so once he's back to full health he won't be far from the majors. If he gets back on the mound in 2016, there's a chance he can help the Pirates in their rotation the second half of the season.

4. Alen Hanson, Second Base

Hanson is a contact-oriented hitter with great speed. His modest arm strength will limit him to second base, but his athleticism will make him an above-average defender. He spent all of 2015 in Triple-A, but he could still use some seasoning in the minors. With Pittsburgh's infield being somewhat flexible positionally, the Pirates could move some pieces around if Hanson's performance warrants a promotion at some point in 2016, giving him a chance to move into the spot vacated by the trade of Neil Walker.

4. Alen Hanson, Second Base

Hanson is a contact-oriented hitter with great speed. His modest arm strength will limit him to second base, but his athleticism will make him an above-average defender. He spent all of 2015 in Triple-A, but he could still use some seasoning in the minors. With Pittsburgh's infield being somewhat flexible positionally, the Pirates could move some pieces around if Hanson's performance warrants a promotion at some point in 2016, giving him a chance to move into the spot vacated by the trade of Neil Walker.

3. Josh Bell, First Base

Bell has proven to be an accomplished minor league hitter, and the Pirates are just waiting for him to show in-game power. He's still getting adjusted to playing first base defensively, which is why the Pirates have placeholders at first base in Michael Morse and John Jaso with Bell at Triple-A. It could take a year or more, but when Bell proves himself to be competent defensively and starts to show power in game situations, he should ultimately become the everyday first baseman in Pittsburgh.

3. Josh Bell, First Base

Bell has proven to be an accomplished minor league hitter, and the Pirates are just waiting for him to show in-game power. He's still getting adjusted to playing first base defensively, which is why the Pirates have placeholders at first base in Michael Morse and John Jaso with Bell at Triple-A. It could take a year or more, but when Bell proves himself to be competent defensively and starts to show power in game situations, he should ultimately become the everyday first baseman in Pittsburgh.

2. Austin Meadows, Outfield

Meadows is an exciting prospect with All-Star potential. Outside of lackluster arm strength, he has above-average tools across the board, and he's started to turn those tools into production. He just got to Double-A at the end of 2015, so he won't factor into what the Pirates do in 2016, but by the midway point of 2017 he could be pushing for a major league promotion. Not that the Pirates are hurting for outfielders, but Meadows has a ceiling higher than any Pittsburgh outfielder outside of Andrew McCutchen.

2. Austin Meadows, Outfield

Meadows is an exciting prospect with All-Star potential. Outside of lackluster arm strength, he has above-average tools across the board, and he's started to turn those tools into production. He just got to Double-A at the end of 2015, so he won't factor into what the Pirates do in 2016, but by the midway point of 2017 he could be pushing for a major league promotion. Not that the Pirates are hurting for outfielders, but Meadows has a ceiling higher than any Pittsburgh outfielder outside of Andrew McCutchen.

1. Tyler Glasnow, Pitcher

Glasnow is the caliber of pitcher who could be paired with Gerrit Cole to give the Pirates dual aces atop their rotation. He has a plus-plus fastball that's consistently in the upper 90s, as well as a plus curveball and a viable changeup. Glasnow had eight strong outings in Triple-A to close 2015, but he could benefit from additional seasoning in 2016. That being said, Glasnow will be in Pittsburgh's rotation at some point this year, and he has a chance to make an immediate impact once he gets there.

1. Tyler Glasnow, Pitcher

Glasnow is the caliber of pitcher who could be paired with Gerrit Cole to give the Pirates dual aces atop their rotation. He has a plus-plus fastball that's consistently in the upper 90s, as well as a plus curveball and a viable changeup. Glasnow had eight strong outings in Triple-A to close 2015, but he could benefit from additional seasoning in 2016. That being said, Glasnow will be in Pittsburgh's rotation at some point this year, and he has a chance to make an immediate impact once he gets there.