Prospect Watch: Will Craig Looking for Path to the Show in 2020
In terms of power and production, first baseman Will Craig has been one of the top players throughout the Pittsburgh Pirates Minor League system. He has a career .259 average with 51 home runs and 264 RBI in 449 Minor League games. With numbers like those, you would think that the 22nd overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft would have made his Major League debut by now. However, Craig is a unique case because he is being blocked at the Major League level by all-star first baseman Josh Bell.
The Pirates have tried Craig in the outfield as well to find him a path to the Major Leagues but, with the emergence of Bryan Reynolds least season and Gregory Polanco coming back healthy, it looks like that is another door closed for the 25-year old. But, Craig isn't letting this get to him and is keeping a positive attitude moving forward. As long as he controls what he can control, he will eventually find his way to the Major Leagues whether it be for the Pirates or for another major League team.
Craig went to Wake Forrest University where he was a pitcher and a third baseman. However, he shined at the plate during his senior season, hitting .379 with 16 home runs and 66 RBI. He was named a Unanimous First-Team All-American and the D1 National Player of the year. However, his biggest prize was being selected 22nd overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates and starting his Major League career. He was assigned to the West Virginia Black Bears and began what would be a rather quick ascent through the Pirates Minor League system.
At first, his power numbers didn't translate to the Minor Leagues and many weren't sure if he had what it took to be an everyday third baseman. In that first season, he appeared in 63 games with the Black Bears hitting .280 with two home runs and 23 RBI it was a sharp decrease in production from what he was used to in college, but he was able to keep the average up. He didn't strikeout often in that first season being set down only 37 times in 218 at bats while walking 41 times.
Because of this patience, he was able to make the jump to high A Bradenton where he continued reps at third base. He once again struggled to find his power stroke, hitting only six home runs, but he continued to hit for average. He hit .271 in 123 games walking 62 times and striking out 106 times in 458 at bats. While he wasn't hitting home runs, he more than doubled his extra base power hitting 26 doubles that season, 14 more than he did the year before. Still, the Pirates were worried that he wasn't going to develop into the power hitter that they drafted.
It wasn't until he made the jump to Double A Altoona that he started to evolve into that true power hitter. He also made the change across the diamond to First Base and found a home playing all-star caliber defense. His average dropped to .249 that season, but his power numbers spiked as he hit a career-high 20 home runs while driving in 102 RBI. Not only was he hitting the ball over the wall, but he was finding the gaps as well with 30 doubles. He sat routinely in the clean-up spot for the Curve and was named an Eastern League Mid-season all-star for the first time in his career.
Craig made the jump to Triple A in 2019, and began to put pressure on Bell after had a down year in 2018. However, as Craig succeeded at Triple A, Bell succeeded in the Major Leagues. Their stat lines looked very similar with Bell hitting 18 home runs and 52 RBI while Craig hit 15 HR and drove in 38 RBI through the month of May. Besides going on the inactive list for a few days, Craig had another full healthy season hitting .249 with a career-high 23 home runs and 78 RBI. Despite all the injuries at the Major League level, there was no spot for Craig and he was stuck in Indianapolis.
He was rewarded for his efforts, however, earning a call to the 2019 MLB All-Stars Futures Game starting at first base. Craig came to the plate twice and got hit by a pitch in both appearances wrapping up his experience. Like his career, it was a weird yet satisfying experience as he got a taste of what the Major Leagues would look like. The Pirates #12 prospect has shown that he is ready to make it to the show, but with no spot ready with the Pirates, his path to his Major League's remains unclear.
Craig dropped over 30 pounds during the off-season as he tried to gain more stamina for the season. The Pirates have been trying him in right field and he performed well for his first time playing outfield. He had a .909 fielding percentage in 106.2 innings played comitting just two errors. While he is a much better defender at first base, this change could be a good way to get Craig's bat into the lineup sooner rather than later. Right now, Bell is the Pirates only true power threat on the roster. Adding Craig's raw power behind him would help add another level of depth to the Pirates lineup.
Prediction: .266 10 HR, 45 RBI (MLB)
While I think Will Craig starts the year in Triple A, I also think 2020 is the year Craig makes his Major League Debut. I don't think it will be at first base, but I think his opportunity will come in the outfield. Gregory Polanco has had trouble staying healthy and producing, so look for Craig to find his opportunity in a platoon scenario. With both Craig and Bell in the lineup at the same time, it would give the Bucs a spot in the lineup that opposing pitchers would fear.
As of now, the season is expected to begin somewhere around May 25th. Until then, we will continue to look at the men who make up this year's team and their contributions in 2020.
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