Buried Treasure Exclusive Interview: Zack Dodson

By now, it's pretty clear what this series is about.  This is the third installment of an interview series that poses questions to members of the Pirates organization and gets answers back.  First was pitcher Michael Colla.  Outfielder Mel Rojas Jr. followed him.  Next up, pitcher Zack Dodson. Enjoy after the jump.

2012 Biggest Prospect Disappointments

The Pirates farm system had a very good year in 2012.  Top pitching prospects Gerrit Cole, Jameson Taillon, and Luis Heredia pitched well and stayed healthy.  In the positional player department, young Latin American prospects Alen Hanson and Gregory Polanco enjoyed massive breakout seasons.  Several other players - Kyle McPherson, Jeff Locke, Nick Kingham, Barrett Barnes, Clay Holmes, Tyler Glasnow, and Wyatt Mathisen, among others - also performed well.  The net overall result was a resounding positive.  That said, it doesn't mean the system was without it's share of failures.  Looking at those failures might not be as enjoyable as the examining the success stories, but it's important to recognize the system's shortcomings. Six players that took a step backwards are listed below.

#24 Pirates Prospect - Zack Dodson

Buried Treasure Top 30 Prospects   
#24 - Zack Dodson

Measurables: 6'2, 190
Bats: L, Throws: L
Position: P
Acquired: 4th round (115th overall), 2009
Bonus: $600,000
DOB: 07/23/1990
Buried Treasure 2012 Top 20: #16

A Gross(man) Lesson

.631 .728 .688 .869.  Now the outlier is pretty obvious; it's .869.  It's also Robbie Grossman's OPS last year, a vast improvement over his previous three years.  Generally outliers are just that, outliers.  They are indicative of a fluke or statistical anomaly, but here Grossman's OPS increase represents genuine improvement.

#16 Prospect - Zack Dodson

My #16 Pirates prospect, Zack Dodson was part of the same draft class the added my #19 prospect Zach Von Rosenberg to the Pirates system.  In 2009, the Pirates selected Dodson two rounds ahead of Von Rosenberg, nabbing the lefty pitcher with the 115th overall pick.  The Pirates convinced Dodson to sign rather than attend Baylor with a 600k dollar signing bonus.  

Dodson was not ranked in Baseball America's top 200 draft prospects, but featured a fastball that touched the low 90's and a solid curveball, an intriguing package, especially from the left-side.  Dodson, who stands at 6'2 inches, lacks elite projectability, but at only 180 lbs (according to fangraphs; Pirates Prospects has him at 180 lbs), he does have some room to add muscle.