2024 MLB Draft update: Hitters filling up Bradenton roster
A look at each draft pick the Pirates signed in 2024
The Pirates signed all but two of their July draft picks, and more are starting to make their professional debuts.
With the FCL season ending a month earlier than usual, there are fewer places for the picks to make an ‘official’ debut, but they are running a ‘Bridge League down at the complexes to fill time until Instructs.
Bridge League is basically extended spring training, but after the FCL season, allowing some rehabbing players to get some playing time (Endy Rodriguez was there in a game at Pirates City) and to get the draft picks adjusted to pro ball.
Here’s a look at each draft pick, whether they have debuted or not, and how they are performing. Quite a few names have popped up in Bradenton, mainly hitters.
1.9 Konnor Griffin—Has yet to debut. It wouldn’t be a shock to hear his name as someone taking part in the Bridge League at some point shortly.
CBA-37 Levi Sterling—Has yet to debut. I would be shocked if he did play, even in the bridge league or instructs.
2.47 Wyatt Sanford—No confirmation yet, but he has yet to debut but should likely see some time by the end of the year at the complex.
3.83 Josh Hartle—Yet to debut. He pitched some in the Cape Cod League, so he could be available to fill some innings at some point this year, maybe even in Bradenton.
4.112 Eddie Rynders—No official debut, but has been playing games at Pirates City (Is an observation on Monday).
4.145 Will Taylor—Has played a couple of games for Bradenton, his first professional hit was a grand slam. Taylor has shown some good patience at the plate but is still adjusting to the new strike zone that the ABS presents.
6.174 Matt Ager—Another player who threw some in the Cape Cod League, so the arm could be ready to handle some innings at some capacity.
7.204 Connor Wietgrefe—He struck out the side in his first professional inning and then got the start on Saturday. The second time out didn’t go as well, but he’s got an interesting fastball/slider (slurve?) combination to watch as a reliever.
8.234 Gavin Adams—He’s injured, so he won’t debut until 2025.
9.234 Duce Gourson—He was one of the first to debut. While his average hasn’t been great, he’s bounced around the infield defensively and has shown a strong approach at the plate.
10.294 Derek Berg—The catcher from the Army academy, Berg has struggled with strikeouts early on but had an inside-the-park grand slam last week against St. Lucie.
11.324 Jacob Bimbi—Hast yet to debut.
12.354 Camden Janik—Has yet to debut.
13.384 Matt McShane—Has yet to debut.
14.414 Ian Farrow—No official debut. He played in a game at the complex earlier in the week where he had a double that went 110 mph off the bat.
15.444 Ethan Lege—Made his debut earlier in the week, went 0-4 with two strikeouts
17.504 Andrew Patrick—As of publication, Patrick has one hit in five at-bats across two games with three walks, three strikeouts, and a stolen base.
18.534 Jake Shirk—Has yet to debut.
19.564 Joe Vogatsky—Played in a game at the complex, but no official debut. Sat 90-93 with the fastball.
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