Well, Brad Lincoln holds the great distinction of being the first (and only) prospect who made this top 10 list who was not acquired by GM Neal Huntington.Lincoln was the team's 2006 1st round draft pick and was chosen 4th overall that year out of the University of Houston. A stellar Cape Cod League stint put him on everyone's radar and a great junior season propelled him to the top of prospect charts where he was 12-2 with a 1.69 ERA.
Lincoln signed fairly quickly and started 6 games that season between the GCL Pirates and the Low-A Hickory Crawdads before being shut down with a strained oblique.
However, during spring training of the next season, Lincoln was faced with an injury a bit more severe. He underwent Tommy John surgery in late March of 2007, thus shutting him down for the entire season, and almost half of 2008.
2008 then became a season that Lincoln had to simply get through. He was able to accomplish that by starting 11 games for Low-A Hickory before being promoted to start 8 games at High-A Lynchburg. Between the 2 levels, Lincoln went 6-10 with a 4.69 ERA. His K:BB ratio was 75:17 in 103.2 innings. That was a huge positive for Lincoln as showed he had not lost any of his command after the surgery. 2008 really could not have gone better for Lincoln as reports showed he looked sharp with a 93 mph fastball and he still possessed his signature curve ball.
Lincoln started out 2009 at AA-Altoona and immediately started to pitch like the pitcher the Pirates had drafted. After 13 games with the Curve, Lincoln had a 2.28 ERA, a 65:18 strikeout to walk ratio, and held opposing hitters to a .228 BA. Toward the end of his stay with the Curve, Lincoln was so overpowering, the Pirates were forced to promote him to AAA. After 3 starts there, he is 1-1 with a 4.70 ERA.
What's amazing is how fast Lincoln has actually moved through the system, considering how much time he has missed. In fact, to date, Lincoln has only pitched in 217.2 innings, which amounts to about a year and a half of time in the minors. 2009 will be his first full season playing pro ball, so the fact that he is at where he is at is pretty impressive.
Lincoln entered the season as the Pirates' #4 prospect, but has since jumped over Tabata and has clearly separated himself from any other pitcher in the system. I would even say that Lincoln could be ML ready by the end of the season, however I do not expect the Pirates to start his clock until 2010.
Lincoln has the stuff to be a future ace. His fastball hovers around 93 mph and his curveball is pretty filthy. Mark my words, Lincoln WILL be in the Pirates rotation for 2010 and I really do think he will be quite successful off the bat.
Expected time to be in the 'Burgh: 2010
Current Top 10:
1) July 18th
2) Brad Lincoln
3) Jose Tabata
4) Tony Sanchez
7) Bryan Morris
8) Jeff Locke
10) Daniel McCutchen
