Pirates' Farm Report
By John E. Sacco

Jose Castillo, 6-1, 200, 22-years-old infielder

Considered the organization's best position prospect before last season, might be, but must do better than he did at AA Altoona last season and in winter ball, hit .287 with 5 HRs, 66 RBI and 19 SBs in 29 attempts at Altoona...played both SS, his natural position, and 2B...also has worked at 3B and even OF during the winter, hit just .255 with 5 HRs and 28 RBI in 53 games with Caracas this winter.

John VanBenschoten, 6-4, 215, 23-years-old RH starting pitcher

Rated by Baseball America as the Pirates' top prospect, the organization's top pick in the 2001 June draft out of Kent State,won a combined 13 games at A Lynchburg and AA Altoona, was 6-0 with a 2.22 ERA at Lynchburg and 7-6 with a 3.69 ERA with the Curve, had a combined 3.17 ERA and struck out 127 in 139 innings, selected to the All-Star Futures Game in July and pitched for the Olympic Qualifying team in October.

Ian Snell, 5-11, 163, 22-years-old RH starting pitcher

Pirates' 2003 Minor League Pitcher-of-the-Year, besting No. 1 picks VanBenschoten, Sean Burnett and Bryan Bullington for the honor, changed his surname from Oquendo after this past season, 10-3 with a 3.33 ERA in 20 starts with Lynchburg before going 4-0 with a 1.96 ERA in six starts with Altoona, might eventually be tried as a closer but remains a starter for now, should be part of a dynamite rotation at Nashville, second in the organization in 2003 with 145 strikeouts.

Cory Stewart, 6-4, 180, 24-years-old LH starting pitcher

The player to be named later in the Brian Giles deal with San Diego...a unique talent in that he has great size for a lefty and he can throw 95 mph, opened eyes at the Pirates' mini-camp in January, McClendon really likes Stewart's desire to pitch inside and challenge hitters.

J.R. House, 5-10, 202, 24-years-old catcher, first base, left field

After being tabbed by Baseball America as the Pirates No. 1 prospect prior to the 2001 and 2002 seasons, House watched his career get nearly destroyed by injury, played just a few games in 2002 because of two hernia operations and a sore elbow and underwent reconstructive elbow surgery in Sept. '02, knocked out of action until July 2003, started his comeback with rookie-level Bradenton, hitting .400 with 4 HRs and 23 RBI in 20 games, followed that by hitting .333 with 2 HRs and 11 RBI in 20 games at Altoona, went 2-6 in three games with AAA Nashville during the playoffs and then was recalled to the big leagues for the Pirates' season-finale series in Chicago, singled in his lone major-league plate appearance.

Michael Johnston, 6-3, 201, 24-years-old left-handed pitcher

Turns 25-years-old at the end of the month, went 6-2 with 7 saves in 46 games for Altoona, struck out 65 in 72-1/3 innings, held opponents to a .179 batting average over the last four months of the season, throws heat and has the attention of McClendon, don't be surprised if he makes the club out of spring training or joins it soon thereafter.

John E. Sacco has covered the Pirates and major league baseball for PSR since October 1998. He previously covered the Pirates from 1986 to 1992 and is a former member of the Baseball Writers of America Association, Pittsburgh Chapter.