Tis the season for prospects lists, and they do become a bit repetitive. FanGraphs' list pretty much follows what others have done in order of ranking, but it offers unique observations on each player.

               
By Marc Hulet, FanGraphs.com     
                        
When I started researching the club, I underestimated just how good the Pirates system is right now. It has impressive high-ceiling talent at the top of the list and depth. I had five or six other players outside the Top 15 that I really wanted to write about, but ultimately they fell just short of the list.

1. Gerritt Cole (P)

Cole was the first overall selection during the 2011 draft and he reached triple-A in his first season in pro ball, securing himself as one of the best pitching prospects in the game. The right-hander’s greatest strength is his heater, which can tickle triple digits and sits in the 93-96 mph range. His second best pitch is a dominating slider. He also has a curveball and a changeup.

Cole is not quite ready to break into the big league rotation. He needs to develop a reliable third pitch, while also improving his command with mechanical tweaks. His control is currently ahead of the command. When asked what Cole’s next step in his development would be, a contact stated, “The next level for Gerrit will be continuing his maturation process as a professional pitcher, specifically how he uses his weapons to effectively and efficiently attack major-league caliber hitters.”

Read the rest of the story.