Is anyone else very excited about the Gulf Coast Pirates?

by GTrain on Jul 8, 2009 12:00 PM EDT Comment 9 comments

First of all, I think it's worth noting that the collection of nationalities on this team is insane. They have 2 pitchers from India, a pitcher from Australia, and a 2B from South Africa in addition to the usual mix of Americans, Dominicans, Purto Ricans and Venezuelans. Must be an interesting clubhouse.

Team Stats are here:

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=t_ibp&cid=470

From what I see the pitching is nothing to write home about so far, but the roster includes

Lastings Milledge just for some rehab, but at least he's showing power and taking walks. If he wanted he could swing away Pedro style and I'm sure he's seeing plenty of bad pitches.

Rinku and Dinesh showing some promise, as opposed to falling on their faces. Rinku gave up his first run last time out and Dinesh has yet to allow a run in his first 2 IP

Wes Freeman. 2008 Bonus baby is 19 years old and is 6'4" 215 Scouts said he had great tools when he was drafted and he is tearing it up so far with an OPS over 1000 and 2 HR inhis first 27 AB's

Does anyone know more about Ramon Cabrera, 18 year old catcher with an OPS over 1000 (only 13 ABs though)?

Gift Ngoepe, our 2B from South Africa has yet to draw a walk and has been caught 2 of 3 SB attempts, but he is hitting .333 Also 19 years old

Brooks Pounders got knocked around his first time out, but come on. BROOKS. POUNDERS.

Also Neil Walker is rehabbing there. Sorry "Pine-Richland's Neil Walker" is rehabbing there.

All in all there's some guys to be excited about and I look forward to following them. If anyone could fill me in with more about these guys besides just their stats through 10 games I would love to hear it.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of the managing editor (Charlie) or SB Nation. FanPosts are written by Bucs Dugout readers.

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Yeah, this team seems to have just as many brand-name prospects as any in the Pirates’ organization. Between Freeman, Singh, Patel, Ngoepe, and Pounders, there is a very intriguing group of prospects that will be interesting to watch as they (hopefully) move through the system. Definitely worth keeping an eye on.

Hey, an out is an out - unless you're Mario, in which case it's probably two outs. -UtesFan89

by wg1of5 on Jul 8, 2009 12:11 PM EDT reply actions

pretty cool

as an indian, and a pirate, i was expecting exactly what you (rightly) point out hasn’t happened- that Rinku and Dinesh would fall flat on their faces. Pretty cool to see them doing ok, if only in the GCL.

Ditto for Wes Freeman- although his 2-6 yday included 3K’s.

I’d expect Evan Chambers to join them soon!

by BurgherKing on Jul 8, 2009 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Chambers

Evan Chambers is playing at State College and doing pretty well, so he’s already a level above the GCL.

by God Loves on Jul 8, 2009 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Oops

Meant to say, expect Freeman to join Chambers soon, and hopefully the rest will work their way up soon too!

by BurgherKing on Jul 8, 2009 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m pretty excited about Gift Ngeope, if only for the fact that I love that we scouted SOUTH AFRICA.

As for Milledge, like you said, it’s only a rehab, but it’s still nifty looking at his numbers. 4 walks and all of his hits have gone for extra bases. 2 steals as well. Obviously he’s way too good to face GCL talent, but I suppose it’s better than looking bad against them.

Wes Freeman is another prospect that I’ve got high hopes for.

I think what’s most encouraging of all is that all levels aside from AAA have a legit wave of prospects in them right now. AA has Alvarez, Tabata, Gorkys, Friday, Dubee and some less-hyped prospects like Kyle Bloom, Jamie Romak and Miles Durham.

Lynchburg has D’Arnaud and Mercer, Locke, Uviedo and Bryan Morris.

West Virginia has a wave almost as big as AA with Sanchez, Grossman, Starling Marte (I love that name), Calvin Anderson, Erik Huber (two 1B prospects that have shown good pop. Encouraging.), Quincy Latimore (also a power guy, but seems to have all 5 tools. Only a few months older than I am, which is cool.), Rudy Owens and Quinton Miller.

State College has Evan Chambers and Victor Black so far, and they’ll likely be joined by the majority of the draft picks we sign.

The only level without a real “wave” of talent is AAA, and even there we have our top pitching prospect.

www.sixtyftsixin.com

by Sixty Feet, Six Inches on Jul 8, 2009 1:00 PM EDT reply actions

As for Milledge, like you said, it’s only a rehab, but it’s still nifty looking at his numbers. 4 walks and all of his hits have gone for extra bases. 2 steals as well. Obviously he’s way too good to face GCL talent, but I suppose it’s better than looking bad against them.

Exactly, like Doumit

RIP NATE. RIP TONY PLUSH.

"I'D BE A CHEF"

-TONY PLUSH

by GTrain on Jul 8, 2009 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Get Milledge to Triple-A! What are they doing?

by mspirate on Jul 8, 2009 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Obviously, they aren’t convinced he’s fully healed yet.

There’s no need to rush him in a rehab stint. We’re not going anywhere this year. He’ll be in AAA and then the Majors soon enough.

www.sixtyftsixin.com

by Sixty Feet, Six Inches on Jul 8, 2009 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree with you that the talent on the GCL team looks to be pretty solid. The one thing i can’t understand is why they have the worst record by far in the league. Like 1-11 or something!

by rydog2469 on Jul 9, 2009 1:02 PM EDT reply actions