Tyler Glasnow rated No. 7 prospect in minors, Josh Bell 45th

RHP Tyler Glasnow (Matt Freed/Post-Gazette)

Pirates minor-league right-hander Tyler Glasnow is ranked No. 7 overall in Baseball America’s midseason top-50 prospects list, released Tuesday. First baseman Josh Bell, another top-end prospect playing at Class AA Altoona, sits 45th on the list.

Glasnow’s jump from 16th in the preseason top-100 to seventh midseason was due in large part to players ahead of him on the list ascending to the majors and losing the “prospect” tag altogether. Seven of Baseball America’s preseason top-10, and 14 of their top-20 players haved moved on to the majors. Chicago Cubs rookie Kris Bryant topped the preseason list, followed by Byron Buxton (Twins), Addison Russell (Cubs) and Carlos Correa (Astros), all of whom have already made a splash in the big leagues.

“Talk about unhittable,” Baseball America staff wrote of Glasnow. “For his career, Glasnow has allowed just 176 hits in 312 innings.”

Glasnow, 21, is 2-2 with a 2.84 ERA for Altoona. A fifth-round pick in 2011, he went on the disabled list May 6 after injuring his ankle sliding into second base, and pitched only once over the next month and a half. He had a rough rehab outing for short-season West Virginia Black Bears. He’s back at Altoona now and is increasing his innings count, working back to full form. In the preseason list, Baseball America graded Glasnow’s fastball — on a 20-80 scale, with 80 being the highest and 50 considered major league average — an 80, his curveball 60, changeup 50 and command 50.

Bell has hit .310 with three home runs and 46 RBIs in 300 at-bats for Altoona. He was moved to first base this year in hopes he can be the Pirates’ everyday first baseman down the road. His power numbers are down, but Pirates brass say there is no reason for concern, and the power will come. Bell vauled from 64th on the preseason list to 45th.

“He’s hit and he’s shown he can hit for power,” Baseball America staff wrote, “but so far he’s struggled to do both at the same time.“

Bumped out of the top-50, from preseason to midseason, were right-hander Jameson Taillon (ranked 29th preseason) and outfielder Austin Meadows (41st). Taillon had Tommy John ligament-replacement surgery in April 2014 and has yet to suit up for a Pirates affiliate. After two months at extended spring training, it was announced this week that Taillon, a No. 2 overall pick in 2010, will miss at least two months after undergoing hernia surgery. Meadows, a first-rounder in 2013, has hit .288 with little power this season at Class A Bradenton.