The Pirates will send seven prospects to the Arizona Fall League this season. The Pirates No.1 pick from the 2011 draft, right-hander Gerrit Cole, left-hander Nathan Baker, right-handers Michael Colla, Phil Irwin, Infielders Jarek Cunningham, Brock Holt and Outfielder Robbie Grossman will represent Pittsburgh for the Mesa Solar Sox.
The Solar Sox will have top prospects from the Pirates, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Minnesota Twins and Baltimore Orioles organizations.
The season kicks off with Opening Day tomorrow on Oct. 4 and wraps on November 17th. The Championship game will be held on Nov. 19 at Scottsdale Stadium. The Rising Stars Game is scheduled for Nov. 5 at Surprise Stadium.
For more information you can visit the AFL website here.
Irwin, along with Baker, Cole and Cunningham, have spent the past two weeks playing in the Fall Instructional League.
Irwin said that he used the time this year to prep for the AFL, getting his arm back in shape to be able to go back out there and pitch.
“It’s real exciting,” Irwin said on the honor of playing in the AFL. “I’m really happy to go. There’s a lot of good players out there, a lot of good competition. Hopefully it will prepare me for the future.”
“I just want to go out there and compete and show other teams what I got. My goal is to pitch in the big leagues with the Pirates, or whoever, so I just want to go out there and compete and show everybody I can pitch.”
Cole, 20, was the Pirates first pick (No. 1 overall) in this years 2011 draft. In 16 games as a junior with UCLA this past season, Cole went 6-8 with a 3.31 ERA, four complete games, a shutout and 119 strikeouts. Over his three years at UCLA, Cole ranked second in school history in strikeouts (376), third in starts (49) and fifth in innings pitched (322.1).
Baker, 23, spent the season with High-A Bradenton where he posted a 10-8 record with a 3.34 ERA in 29 games (25 starts). He walked 51 batters while striking out 105 in 148.1 innings this season. Baker was drafted in the 5th round of the 2009 draft out of Ole Miss by Pittsburgh. He was ranked as the Pirates No. 17 overall prospect by Baseball America prior to the 2011 season.
Colla, 24, sported a 5-11 record with a 3.70 ERA with Double-A Altoona this season. It was the first year since College that Colla had pitched in the starting rotation. Prior to this season, he was used as a reliever in the Pirates Minor League system. Colla finished ninth in the league with a 3.70 ERA, fifth with a 1.17 WHIP and third in batting average against among starters (.226).
Irwin, 24, posted a 5-0 record with a 2.03 ERA in 10 starts with High-A Bradenton before being promoted to Double-A Altoona in June. Irwin finished the season a combined 13-4 record and a 3.81 ERA over 140.2 innings. Irwin led the Pirates minor league system with 13 wins. His eight wins with the Curve (beginning on June 19th) ranked tied for second among all Double-A pitchers. Irwin also allowed just one unearned run in his last two starts (12.0 innings) to finish off the season.
Cunningham, 21, finished with a .260 average, 23 doubles, six triples, 15 home runs, 51 RBI and five stolen bases in 82 games this season combined with the GCL Pirates and High-A Bradenton. Cunningham was selected in the 18th round of the 2008 draft by Pittsburgh.
Holt, 23, was named to the Eastern League All-Star game this season while playing with the Double-A Altoona Curve. In 132 games this season, Brock finished with a .288 average, 30 doubles, nine triples, one home run, 40 RBI and stole 18 bases. Holt was selected by the Pirates in the 9th round of the 2009 draft.
Grossman, 22, was named the Pirates Minor League Player-of-the-year. In 134 games, Grossman drew 104 walks and scored 127 runs, becoming the first minor leaguer since Nick Swisher in 2004 to score at least 100 runs and walk 100 times in the same season. Grossman also earned Florida State League post-season All-Star honors this year while becoming the first minor leaguer since Adam Piatt in 1999 of the Oakland Athletics’ organization to score at least 127 runs in a season. Grossman hit .294 with 34 doubles, two triples, 13 home runs, 56 RBI in 134 games while spending the entire season with High-A Bradenton.
Photo credit: MILB
Discussion about this post