Third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes, a former first-round draft pick and one of the Pirates' top prospects, was named the organization's minor league player of the year Friday after a breakout offensive season at Double-A Altoona.
Additionally, starting pitcher J.T. Brubaker was named their minor league pitcher of the year after making 28 starts between Double-A and Triple-A Indianapolis.
Hayes, 21, is the Pirates' top position player prospect and appeared in the MLB Futures Game in July. Regarded as one of the top defenders at his position in the minor leagues, he'll likely begin next season in Triple-A.
"Ke’Bryan continued his impressive defensive skills at third base in 2018, proving that his 2017 Rawlings Gold Glove award was no fluke,” Larry Broadway, the Pirates' farm director, said in a news release.. “Ke’Bryan truly deserves this award and we are very proud of the work that he has put in to get him to where he is at today.”
Both Brubaker and Hayes will need to be added to the 40-man roster this offseason to prevent them from being exposed to the Rule 5 draft. That decision may be more difficult with Brubaker, a sixth-round pick in 2015. The right-hander was not ranked by any publication among the club's top 30 prospects entering this season, however, he's since strengthened its starting pitching depth, which took a hit when Chad Kuhl had Tommy John surgery this week.
Brubaker's 3.10 ERA in 18 Triple-A starts ranked 10th in the International League, and he had a 2.34 ERA over his final 10 starts. The 24-year-old Brubaker posted a combined record of 10-6 with a 2.81 ERA and 131 strikeouts in 28 starts (154 innings) between Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis in 2018. He led all Pirates minor leaguers in ERA and ranked second in strikeouts.
Hayes was drafted 32nd overall by the Pirates in 2015 and spent all of last season at High-A Bradenton, where he posted a .708 OPS in 108 games. His production improved upon reaching Double-A this season.
Hayes spent the entire 2018 season with Altoona, where he hit .293 with 31 doubles, seven triples, seven home runs and 47 RBI in 117 games. For his efforts, Hayes was selected to the Eastern League’s mid- and post-season All-Star teams.
He finished tied for first in the Eastern League in triples, and ranked fourth in doubles, eighth with 45 extra base hits and ninth in batting average. He led all minor league third basemen with a .978 fielding percentage, while also leading all Eastern League third basemen with 116 games, 278 total chances, 72 putouts and 29 double plays.
"That's very important for me because not every night I'm going to be able to get three, four hits, so I have to help my team out any way I can," Hayes told reporters Friday at PNC Park. "I take a lot of pride in my defense."