Pittsburgh Pirates: Top 10 Rookie-Eligible Prospects for 2018
8. Nick Kingham, RHP
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 11/8/1991 (26)
2017 teams/levels played for: high-A Bradenton Marauders, AAA Indianapolis Indians
2017 Stats: 21 G, 20 GS, 118 1/3 IP, 3.95 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 5.8% BB, 18.7% K
Info: Originally drafted in 2010 in the 4th round out of high school, Kingham from day one had the raw size and stuff, but he’s struggled to advance up the system due to injury, including Tommy John surgery in 2015 that wiped out his 2016 completely.
He was just getting back on the mound last spring when an ankle injury hampered him until May, keeping him to a less-than-full season yet again, but he showed his stuff was back to the point of being a solid mid-rotation starter. Kingham leads off that stuff with a with a fastball that sits 91-93 but gets excellent plane and late wiggle from his 6’6″ frame and tall delivery.
In his secondary stuff, Kingham features a hard curve that sits average but can flash fringe-plus at times and works well due to his ability to locate it. His change is above-average, flashing plus due to his excellent sinking movement on the pitch and arm deception on the pitch.
Locating all of his stuff has been one of the hallmarks of Kingham in his career, and typically, that’s one of the last things to return after TJS, so to show it so well in his first season back in 2017 was an extremely positive sign. He’s likely headed back to AAA, but his excellent control and steady performance should make him an excellent candidate for a spot start if there is an injury in the Pittsburgh Pirates rotation.
7. Luis Escobar, RHP
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 5/30/1996 (21)
2017 teams/levels played for: low-A West Virginia Power
2017 Stats: 26 G, 25 GS, 131 2/3 IP, 3.83 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 10.7% BB, 29.9% K
Info: Escobar was actually a third baseman when the Pirates signed him for $150K out of Columbia, but they liked his arm enough to push him to the mound full-time, and as he’s added to his frame to the point where he stands 6’2″ and 210 pounds of intimidation on the mound now.
(Escobar has) added to his frame to the point where he stands 6’2″ and 210 pounds of intimidation on the mound now
That intimidation comes from more than just his filled out frame, as he can run his fastball up to 97 MPH, sitting 93-95 with some control issues but also wicked movement on the pitch, adding to its effectiveness in the zone. His best secondary pitch is a late-breaking curve that he gets plus grades on from many scouts and can generate a ton of swing and miss with.
His change could use some work, but when he’s on with his delivery the arm deception he gets on the change is above-average. His delivery has calmed down significantly over the last year, especially as he’s gained more comfort in his additional size in his frame.
Further strides in his command/control at high-A in 2018 could have Escobar on the fast track to the Pittsburgh Pirates rotation, but he has a high floor as a power reliever with his current pitch mix, leaving him as a very useful arm in a system that is surprisingly thin in arms.
Next: #5 and #6