Austin Meadows May Make Pittsburgh Pirates Batting Lineup In 2017
Chris Ransom Posted on 10/20/2016.
Austin Meadows the Pittsburgh Pirates prospect and center fielder on the Indianapolis Indians may be ready to play in the MLB after spending years in the minors. Pittsburgh has Starling Marte at left fielder, Andrew McCutchen at center fielder, and Gregory Polanco at right fielder.
Meadows was awesome at Grayson High School where he played before the Pirates drafted him ninth overall in the 2013 MLB Draft. Arizona Cardinals rookie Robert Nkemdiche also went to Grayson High School in Georgia. Meadows did well for the Altoona Curve in 2015 and got promoted to the Indianapolis Indians in 2016.
Meadows is a 5 tool bat much like Bradley Zimmer who can hit home runs, line drives, grounders, or bunt. He can also throw the ball out of the outfield at a very fast rate. He has the versatility to play left fielder, center fielder, or right fielder.
Where does that leave the Pittsburgh Pirates with the development of Austin Meadows? Starling Marte batted .311 in 129 games. It's hard to see Marte being moved at this point. This means that if Meadows was 18 when he was drafted he's 21 now and will turn 22-years-old in May that either Andrew McCutchen or Gregory Polanco will get dealt in the offseason prior to Meadows being called up.
Meadows is either going to replace Andrew McCutchen or Gregory Polanco at some point. McCutchen is 30-years-old and is coming off his worst career season. Polanco is 25. Even if McCutchen is moved you will reload with Meadows having a 28-year-old Marte, a 21-year-old Meadows, and a 25-year old Polanco in your outfield. Pittsburgh will still have incredible outfield play even if Meadows manages to replace McCutchen allowing a youth movement to take place in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh drafted well in 2011, 2013, and 2015. They drafted horribly in 2012, 2014, and 2016 though. Meadows was a top 5 prospect that fell to 9, and Pittsburgh has patiently worked with him for four years. With rumors of McCutchen being dealt, there is a strong chance that Meadows ends up replacing McCutchen in 2017. Hopefully the Pirates can get a pitcher that's ready to win now if they move McCutchen because that's what the Pirates need more than anything else.
The Utopia Of Sports
