ESPN ranks Ke'Bryan Hayes baseball's No. 6 prospect, 1 of 6 Pirates to make Top 100 list

Ke’Bryan Hayes received his highest ranking yet on a prospects list, as ESPN rated the Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman at No. 6 overall when it released its Top 100 on Thursday.

Hayes is one of six Pirates to crack ESPN’s Top 100 prospects list, joined by Oneil Cruz (28), Nick Gonzales (66), Travis Swaggerty (79), Quinn Priester (87) and Liover Peguero (91).

? @kileymcd TOP 100 TIME ?

Wander Franco is No. 1, Adley Rutschman No. 2 and Jarred Kelenic No. 3.

Reams of interesting information in the capsules for the 100 prospects you need to know about now at ESPN+ -- and much more from Kiley to come soon, too: https://t.co/jElhOI5GBO

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 11, 2021

A pair of former WPIAL stars, Minnesota Twins right fielder Alex Kirilloff of Plum (22) and Tampa Bay Rays left-handed pitcher Brendan McKay of Blackhawk (73), also made ESPN’s Top 100.

Hayes received the highest praise from ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel, who said the Pirates’ top prospect previously hovered in the 20s or 30s because “it looked like he would lack the impact game power to be a star, relying on plus contact and defensive skills at the hot corner.”

By batting .376/.442/.682 with seven doubles, two triples, five home runs and 11 RBIs in 24 games last September to win NL rookie of the month honors, Hayes saw his stock soar in the eyes of scouts. Now, Hayes is considered a frontrunner to win NL rookie of the year.

“His MLB debut in 2020 for a last-place Pirates club beat anyone’s expectations,” McDaniel wrote, “and probably raised some fans’ hopes a little too high, to be honest.”

ESPN has Cruz, who plays shortstop, listed as a third baseman despite the presence of Hayes at that spot in the majors. Pirates manager Derek Shelton said the club will play Cruz at multiple spots this spring, in anticipation of a possible position change.

“Cruz is another one on the ridiculous tools, amazing upside end of the spectrum on this list,” McDaniel wrote. “I first saw him when he was 15 years old and about 6-foot-1. He’s now 6-foot-7, so I’ve tossed that scouting report in the trash. He’s still playing shortstop, incredibly, and has been described as having such quick hands for a player his size that it’s hard to totally process.”

Gonzales, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, projects as a second baseman and McDaniel says the former New Mexico State star “broadly fits into one of the best draft demographics: advanced college infielder with hit/power combination.”

“Gonzales is unique within that group,” McDaniel wrote, “because the numbers he put up 1) in a smallish park 2) against weak competition and 3) at altitude for New Mexico are looked upon skeptically in the industry.”

Swaggerty, a 2018 first-round pick who plays center field, also shined as a college hitter at South Alabama but has yet to find his groove in the minors.

“His raw power is still plus — along with his speed, defense and arm strength — but the big question is on his contact ability, which maps nicely to how much effort is in his swing,” McDaniel wrote. “The Team USA version of Swaggerty was underpowered, the South Alabama version was almost a softball slugger, and thus far in pro ball he’s still trying to find the balance between the two.”

Priester, the Pirates’ first-round pick in 2019, has yet to play a full season in the minors but wowed scouts with his performance in Instructional League play this past fall in Florida. McDaniel said he projects as a potential top-25 player if he continues to progress.

“Priester is one of a handful of pitchers who made real gains in terms of raw stuff behind mostly closed doors at the alternate site, instructional league and in-person training,” McDaniel wrote. “His velocity spiked to 99 or 100 mph depending on the source or specific outing, which was good to see so soon for one of the best projection bets in the 2019 draft class.”

Peguero, a 20-year-old shortstop, was the centerpiece of the return from the Arizona Diamondbacks in the Starling Marte trade in January 2019, one McDaniel said is “endemic of the Pirates rebuilding approach under new GM Ben Cherington: lower level players with upside, particularly position players.”

“Despite being a teenager at the time of the deal with no full-season experience, had already shown four above-average tools, with his power still below average,” McDaniel wrote. “This profile is especially en vogue now and generally isn’t available in trades once the prospect reaches high-A or Double-A.”