Pirates set 40-man roster
Josh Bell (INF) - Will enter the 2016 season ranked as Pittsburgh's third-best prospect, according to Baseball America... Was rated by MLB.com as the best rst base prospect in minor league baseball prior to the 2015 season...Hit .317 with 24 doubles, nine triples, seven home runs, 78 RBI and an .838 OPS in a career-high 131 minor league games in 2015...Was named to the Eastern League mid-season All-Star team...Was the starting rst baseman and hit a home run in the MLB Futures Game...His .394 average from 8/5 thru the end of the season was the second-highest in the International League... Was Pittsburgh's Minor League Player-of-the-Year in 2014 after batting .325 with 60 RBI and an .834 OPS in 108 games... Was named MVP of the Florida State League in 2014...Was Pittsburgh's second round selection (61st pick overall) in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft...Has produced a .305 average, 88 doubles, 15 triples, 30 homers and 225 RBI in 373 career minor league games.
Tyler Glasnow (RHP) - Pittsburgh's top prospect went 7-5 with a 2.39 ERA (109.1ip/29er) and 136 strikeouts in 22 minor league starts in 2015; led all Pirates farmhands in strikeouts and ranked fourth in ERA...Finished 2015 season at the Triple-A level, where he was charged with one earned run or less in seven of his eight starts...Was Pittsburgh's Minor League Pitcher- of-the-Year in 2014 after going 12-5 with a Florida State League-leading 1.74 ERA in 23 starts...Was also named FSL Pitcher- of-the-Year and to the league's post-season All-Star team in 2014...Was a South Atlantic League All-Star and Pittsburgh's Pitcher-of-the-Year after going 9-3 with a 2.18 ERA in 24 starts in 2013...Was Pittsburgh's fth round selection in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft and has gone 28-16 with a 2.07 ERA in 81 career minor league games (80 starts).
Max Moroff (INF) - Pittsburgh's 16th round selection in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft spent the entire 2015 season with Altoona and hit .293 (153-for-523) with 79 runs, 28 doubles, six triples, seven home runs and 51 RBI in a team-high 136 games...Was named to the Eastern League mid- and post-season All-Star teams...Led Eastern League in games, runs and at bats...Was also selected as Pittsburgh's Minor League Player-of-the-Year in 2015...Led Eastern League second basemen in elding percentage (.978), total chances (557), assists (330), and double plays (76)...Set franchise record for most hits in a season by a switch-hitter...Led all Florida State League second basemen in elding pct. (.980), games (123) and total chances (647) while playing with Bradenton in 2014...Has made 232 appearances at second base and 149 at shortstop during his four-year professional career.
Harold Ramirez (OF) - Spent entire 2015 season with Bradenton, where he hit .337 (103-for-306) with 13 doubles, six triples, four home runs, 47 RBI and 22 stolen bases in 80 games; led all Pirates farmhands in batting...Was tabbed as the "Fastest Baserunner" in the system by Baseball America prior to 2013 and shared the New York-Penn League lead in stolen bases (23) that season...Colombia native was signed as a non-drafted free agent on 7/2/11...Is currently playing with Mazatlan in the Mexican Winter League...Has tallied a .304 average and 66 stolen bases in his minor league career.
Pittsburgh's 40-man roster now contains 38 players (16 pitchers, 4 catchers, 11 in elders and 7 out elders).