Yurendell Decaster

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #21 prospect in 2002
  The Pirates spent just $12,000 to select DeCaster from the Devil Rays in the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 draft following his injury-plagued 2000 season. It turned out to be a wise investment, as DeCaster performed well last year in low Class A after struggling initially in high Class A. He has good bat speed and developing power, and it's possible he could blossom into a home run threat. DeCaster also has the makings of a good defensive third baseman with fine range and a strong arm. He's a decent runner, though he doesn't steal many bases. After four years in the minors, DeCaster must prove he can play well against higher competition. He also needs to develop better patience at the plate. DeCaster has had shoulder and toe problems that have kept him out of the lineup in the past. His arm is erratic and sometimes he'll make errors in bunches. This will be a pivotal year for DeCaster, who will go back to Lynchburg to show he can handle advanced pitching. DeCaster eventually may need to move to the outfield because of the presence of Aramis Ramirez in Pittsburgh.