Steve Pearce

2013

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2012

Pearce hit just .202/.260/.255 with Pittsburgh last year. He'll likely add depth at Triple-A, but he could contend for a utility role and could find playing time if Justin Morneau isn't able to return from concussion issues. He's never turned his strong on-base skills in the minors into production in the majors, but there's still time at age 29 for him to carve out a steady major league role.

2011

It finally looked like Pearce belonged in a major league uniform in 2010, at least until he suffered a high ankle sprain in May. After coming back from that injury, Pearce hurt his knee and subsequently underwent season-ending surgery. He was added to the Pirates' 40-man roster in the offseason, but where he stands within the organization is anyone's guess. Pearce batted .326/.424/.535 in 129 Triple-A at-bats, though he's had success in the high minors before. Space at first base and in the outfield is becoming more and more limited these days in Pittsburgh, and the right-handed Pearce will have to hope for a platoon at first base to get another crack in the majors.

2010

Pearce didn't look quite as overmatched in 2009 as he did in 2008, but that's about as good as it gets for the smallish first baseman. He finally got his first extended looks, with starter Adam LaRoche leaving and then supposed September callup, Jeff Clement, going out with an oblique injury. Things didn't go Pearce's way, however, as he hit just .206/.296/.370 in 165 at-bats. Breaking pitches continue to give Pearce problems and until he learns to lay off pitches outside of the strike zone, there's little reason to keep him on fantasy radars. His minor league player of the year campaign of 2007 seems like a long, long time ago.

2009

Pearce's prospect bubble burst in 2008 and it took much of the season for him to find his bearings before recovering somewhat in September. The stout right-handed hitter probably wasn't quite as good as his 2007 minor league player of the year award suggested, but the .333 batting average and 33 homers were hard to ignore. Last year, after struggling to a .248/.294/.422 Triple-A line, Pearce made his way to the offensively-starved Pirates following the trade deadline. He failed to produce and was benched until Nyjer Morgan was injured. Pearce then took advantage of the last 10 days of the season, knocking three home runs to help salvage a disappointing campaign. The 26-year-old still has a window of opportunity until the Pirates recall Andrew McCutchen, but he'll have to have a strong spring training to regain some trust within the Pittsburgh organization.

2008

Pearce proved to be the white knight in an otherwise barren farm system for the Pirates in 2007. Yes, he's old for an impact rookie at 25, but his numbers are oh-so-nice. Pearce was named Minor League Baseball's Player of the Year, batting a combined .330 between High-A Lynchburg and Double-A Altoona. Pearce ranked third among all minor leaguers in total bases (303), fourth in RBI (113), fifth in extra-base hits (75), fifth in slugging percentage (.622) and tied for seventh in home runs (31). He also held his own after the Pirates called him up in September, posting a .294 average. The smallish power hitter (he's 5-foot-11, 205 pounds) also put up a decent BB:K ratio of 39:57 last year, another good sign. The outfield is crowded in Pittsburgh, but even the Pirates will likely find a way to fit the promising Pearce into their starting lineup on a regular basis. Watch him closely in spring training and be ready to pounce.

2007

Pearce batted a combined .273 with 26 homers and 98 RBI between Low-A Hickory and High-A Lynchburg in 2006. The Pirates face a dearth of power-hitting prospects, which in and of itself elevates Pearce to a higher status within the organization. Pittsburgh's third-round draft pick in 2005, Pearce will need to produce some power numbers at Double-A in 2007 to maintain his track to the big leagues.