Pirates protect six prospects, DFA Fryer, Paul

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates added six prospects to the 40-man roster today in order to protect them from the Rule-5 draft that takes place on December 8^th. They placed infielder Matt Hague, outfielder Starling Marte, infielder Jordy Mercer, and pitchers Rudy Owens, Duke Welker and Justin Wilson on the 40-man roster.

In order to create room on the roster, catcher Eric Fryer and Xavier Paul were designated for assignment.

Hague, 26, appeared in 141 games with Triple-A Indy, where he finished the season ranked first in the International League in hits (165), third in total bases (244) and sixth in batting average (.309). Hague’s 165 hits were the most by a member of the Indy Indians since D.T. Cromer had 166 back in 1999. In 2010, Hague was an Eastern League mid-season All-Star and batted .295 with 30 doubles, 15 homers and 86 RBI in 135 games with Double-A Altoona. In 2009, Hague led Carolina League first basemen in fielding percentage (.995) and total chances (1151) while playing with High-A Lynchburg. Hague was ranked by Baseball America prior to the 2011 season as the Pirates 25^th best prospect in the system and was drafted by Pittsburgh in the 9^th round of the 2008 draft. Hague is currently playing winter ball in the Dominican for the Toros del Este. He’s batting .311 with 11 runs, two doubles, two home runs, 15 RBI and 11 walks in 24 games.

Marte, 23, was named the Eastern League Rookie of the Year, mid-season and post-season Eastern League All-Star, won the Eastern League batting title, was named the Eastern League Player of the Week from August 8-14^th, the Altoona Curve’s Most Valuable Player of the Year and was a participant in the 2011 XM Futures Game. Marte also set a new Altoona Curve single-season franchise record with a league-best 178 hits this season. He finished the season with a .332 average, with a career-high 12 home runs, 50 RBI and scored 91 runs. Marte produced a .309 average, 80 doubles, 21 triples, 27 home runs, 178 RBI and 73 stolen bases in his first five seasons in the Pirates organization (364 games). Marte was named by Baseball America as the Pirates No. 4 best prospect prior to the 2011 season and “the best athlete“ in the system. Marte is currently playing winter ball in the Dominican League for Leones del Escogido but is sidelined with a groin injury he suffered on November 1^st.

Mercer, 25, batted .255 with 30 doubles, two triples, 19 home runs, 69 RBI, 79 runs and nine stolen bases combined with Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis. Mercer lead the Carolina League in doubles (36) and shortstops in double plays turned (86) while playing with Lynchburg in 2009.Mercer was drafted by the Pirates in the 3^rd round of the 2008 draft and was ranked as the Pirates No. 22 prospect by Baseball America prior to the 2011 season and rated as the “best infield arm” in the system.

Owens, 23, posted a 9-7 with a 5.05 ERA in 21 starts (112.1 innings) with Triple-A Indianapolis in 2011, a down year for the Pirates No. 7 best prospect by Baseball America. He’s coming off a solid campaign with Double-A Altoona in 2010 where he posted a 12-6 record with a 2.46 ERA. Owens finished the season early after being placed on the disabled list on August 5^th with arm fatigue. Owens participated in the Fall Instructional League in Bradenton where he got his arm back in shape. He posted an 11-2 record and a 2.10 ERA in 25 combined starts between Class-A West Virginia and Lynchburg in 2009 and was named to the South Atlantic League’s mid- and post-season All-Star squads. Owens was named the Pirates Minor League Pitcher-of-the-year in 2010 and 2009. Owens was drafted by Pittsburgh in the 28^th round of the 2006 draft.

Welker, 25, went 4-5 with six saves and a 2.76 ERA (62.0ip/19er) in 44 total games with Bradenton and Altoona in 2011. He has spent the last two seasons as a relief pitcher and has produced a 3.15 ERA in 84 appearances. Welker was Pittsburgh’s 2nd-round selection in the 2007 draft and spent his first two professional seasons as a starting pitcher. Welker was converted to a reliever while pitching with Class-A West Virginia in 2009.

Wilson, 24, went 10-8 with a 4.13 ERA over 30 games (21 starts) with Triple-A Indy in 2011. Wilson had a down year after posting a 3.09 ERA in 2010 with Double-A Altoona and finished the season in the bullpen with Indy where he saw his fastball reach 98 and 99 mph. Wilson is expected to return to the rotation in 2012. Wilson was named the Eastern League post-season MVP as Altoona captured the league championship in 2010. He went 11-8 with a 3.09 ERA with Altoona in 2010, ranking second in the league in strikeouts (134) and fourth in ERA. Wilson was drafted by Pittsburgh in the 5^th round of the 2008 draft and was ranked by Baseball America prior to the 2011 season as the Pirates No. 15 prospect.

Fryer,26, made his major league debut with Pittsburgh this season and batted .269 in 10 games. Combined with Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Indy, Fryer batted .273 with 40 runs, nine doubles, three triples, seven home runs and 27 RBI. The Pirates have 10 days to trade, release or outright Fryer to the minors.

Paul, 26, was claimed from the Los Angeles Dodgers and batted .255 with six doubles, five triples, two home runs, 20 RBI and 16 stolen bases over 128 games with Pittsburgh in 2011. If Paul clears waivers, he will become a free agent.

The roster is currently at 40.

There were 47 players eligible for this years draft. For a complete list of those first-time and re-eligible this year, read more here. The draft takes place on Dec 8^th at the winter meetings in Dallas, Texas.

Photo credit: MILB