Brad Lincoln

Lincoln started five games for the Pirates but found success in the bullpen and stayed there after being traded to the Blue Jays for Travis Snider. Averaging a strikeout per inning and posting a 1.18 WHIP, Lincoln might have found his calling in the majors as a setup man. Most of his struggles as a starter were tied to the lack of a steady third pitch, but that weakness is mitigated in the short-relief role where his fastball touches the upper-90s.

Lincoln salvaged his 2011 campaign with a late push toward respectability once he joined the Bucs rotation in late August. In seven starts, he allowed three or fewer runs six times and shut out the World Champion Cardinals on Aug. 27. Lincoln, who registered a 4.72 ERA and 1.469 WHIP in 47.2 frames for the Pirates, isn't guaranteed a spot in the rotation. It's quite possible he starts out in Triple-A and serves as an early-season recall. He hasn't panned out as the potential frontline pitcher Pittsburgh had hoped for when it drafted him fourth overall in 2006, but there's still a chance he develops into a serviceable major league starter. He'll get another shot in 2012.

Lincoln learned that it will take more than two pitches and mediocre control to succeed in the big leagues during his 2010 major league debut. After showing impeccable control throughout his minor league career, the former first-round draft pick struggled with his confidence in Pittsburgh and lost several mph on his fastball. He lost four of five decisions with the Bucs, posting a 6.66 ERA and 1.538 WHIP in 52.2 innings. Pirates GM Neal Huntington was wary of bringing him up to the majors too soon, and it turns out he was right. Lincoln fared a little better upon returning to Triple-A. He was then sidelined with neck and shoulder problems for a bit before making a couple cameos back with Pittsburgh in late September. Lincoln will likely have to log additional Triple-A innings before he gets another shot in Pittsburgh. That shouldn't present too much of a problem, however, given the Pirates' perennial pitching woes. The 6-foot right-hander is a scrapper and will find a permanent home in the majors, but only when he finds his confidence. He has a chance to become Pittsburgh's No. 2 or No. 3 starter over time.

Lincoln is on track to make his major league debut sometime in 2010 provided he can stay healthy. Pitching at two levels last year, Lincoln gave the Pirates hope that they might have a No. 2 or 3 starter in the right-handed Texan. He compiled a 2.28 ERA, 1.080 WHIP and 65:18 K:BB ratio at Double-A before hitting a slight snag at Triple-A. Lincoln maintained his impeccable control (42:10 K:BB ratio) with Indianapolis, but saw his H/9IP rise from 7.6 to 10.6. His earned run average jumped to 4.70 and his WHIP increased to 1.337. If he performs well in spring training and carries that over to Triple-A, Lincoln figures to be recalled by June.

Lincoln, Pittsburgh's 2006 first-round draft choice, rebounded from Tommy John surgery in 2007 to make 19 minor league starts last season. The former University of Houston standout went 5-5 with a 4.65 ERA and an incredible 46:6 K:BB ratio at Low-A Hickory. That prompted the Pirates to promote Lincoln to High-A Lynchburg. The smallish right-hander had a tougher time at High-A, losing five of six decisions while putting up a 4.75 ERA. His 29:11 K:BB ratio also suffered, but the organization has to be happy he stayed healthy. Lincoln will likely start the 2009 campaign at Lynchburg, but he could very easily move up to Double-A or Triple-A, with a September promotion to Pittsburgh not out of the question.

Hopefully Lincoln got the Pirates No. 1-draft-pick-pitching-prospect curse out of the way when he suffered an abdominal injury shortly after signing in 2006. Thought to be among the top two or three major league ready hurlers in the draft, Lincoln had little chance to prove his wares before straining his left oblique. The 21-year-old fireballer went 1-2 with a 4.56 ERA in 23.2 innings while pitching in the Gulf Coast League and for Low-A Hickory. The 6-foot, 200-pound right-hander went 12-2 with a 1.69 ERA as a junior at the University of Houston, prompting the Pirates to take him with the No. 4 pick. With an above-average fastball, curveball and changeup, Lincoln will be on a fast track to Pittsburgh.