Pirates converting Stetson Allie to hitter

photo by milb.com

Don't expect Stetson Allie to join the Marauders' pitching roation any time soon.
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported that the Pirates are converting Allie, their second-round pick in 2010, into a hitter.

“Stetson was one of the few athletes in each draft to be considered a prospect as a pitcher and as a hitter,” Pirates general manager Neal Huntington told the Tribune-Review. “We believed his highest upside was as a pitcher. We obviously were very pleased to sign him as a pitcher. Since then, we’ve faced some challenges with him as a pitcher.”

In 15 appearances last year for the Pirates' short-season New York-Penn League team in State College, Allie posted a 6.58 ERA and walked 29 in 26 innings. He also struck out 28, showing shades of the player the Pirates hoped they were getting when they signed him for over $2 million out of high school.

His control problems followed him this season to West Virginia, home to the Pirates' low Single-A team, where Allie issued eight walks and allowed four earned runs in 2/3 of an inning. According the Tribune-Review, Allie, who made two appearances and a start, was shut down so he could work on his delivery.

The Pirates' first pick of the 2010 draft, James Taillon, is currently with the Marauders and was selected to play in the Florida State League's All-Star Game on June 16 in Port Charlotte.