Pirates Not Likely To Call Up Top Prospect Austin Meadows

The news of Starling Marte’s 80-game suspension for PEDs immediately spawned questions about whether the Pirates would call up top prospect Austin Meadows to replace Marte in the outfield.

While a corresponding roster move has yet to officially be made, it appears improbable Meadows will be called up based on the Pirates’ history with promising young outfielders.

First off, Meadows, 21, is off to a slow start at Triple-A Indianapolis. He entered Tuesday 6-for-37 (.162) on the season, which follows a .214/.297/.460 slash line he posted in 36 games with Indianapolis at the end of last year.

Beyond Meadows’ performance, his relative inexperience makes it unlikely he gets the call. Meadows, BA’s No. 6 overall prospect, has 404 career plate appearances in Double-A and Triple-A. Andrew McCutchen had 1,466 plate appearances in Double-A and Triple-A before the Pirates called him up. Gregory Polanco had 600 plate appearances at those levels. Marte had 1,003.

The Pirates, of course, could decide to buck their trend and bring Meadows up anyway. But if history is any indication, Meadows’ big league debut is likely to wait.