Morning Rundown: The MLB Draft begins today, Patrick Reilly pitches seven innings
Pirates pick three times on day one of the MLB Draft
The MLB Draft begins today, with the Pittsburgh Pirates having the ninth overall pick. This draft has been hard to predict at the top, so it feels like it could be several names that the Pirates could choose from.
I looked at some options the Pirates could go with their first pick of the night.
Day one of the draft will begin at 7 pm ET, and the Pirates will have three picks on the night. Nola and I will be doing a live broadcast during the draft, with us going live around when the Pirates make their second pick at 37.
You can get to the live show by clicking the link here.
The Pirates have gone very pitcher-heavy in recent drafts, so I looked in-depth at some that could be available after the first round.
The Pirates have been going pitcher-heavy in recent years, which has left some holes in the system regarding hitting prospects. I also looked at some hitting prospects they could add to the system in the draft.
The 2024 All-Star Futures Game was on Saturday, with two Pirates participating, Bubba Chandler and Termarr Johnson.
Chandler pitched the seventh inning, picking up a strikeout and allowing a double to Kyle Teel. Johnson went 1-2 with a bloop single in his second at-bat.
I made some observations on the game, with notes on Johnson, Chandler Thomas White, Kyle Teel, and Drake Baldwin, among others.
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RHP Drake Fellows assigned to Indianapolis Indians from Altoona Curve
Indianapolis Indians transferred C Dylan Shockley to the development list
Altoona Curve transferred RHP Kade McClure from the 7-day injured list to the 60-day injured list
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Top Exit Velocity
Malcom Nunez - IND - 115.6 mph - Double
Oneil Cruz - PIT - 115.1 mph - Forceout
Matt Gorski - IND - 111.8 mph - GIDP
Javier Rivas - BRD - 108.5 mph - Single
Joshua Palacios - PIT - 108.4 mph - Single
Top Pitch Velocity
Aroldis Chapman - PIT - 102.3 mph
Aroldis Chapman - PIT - 102.3 mph
Aroldis Chapman - PIT - 102.2 mph
Aroldis Chapman - PIT - 102.1 mph
Aroldis Chapman - PIT - 101.2 mph
Most Whiffs
Patrick Reilly - GBO - 11
Drake Fellows - IND - 11
Carlos Jimenez - BRD - 11
Luis Ortiz - PIT - 9
Isaac Mattson - IND - 6
Indianapolis Indians - 3 vs Columbus Clippers - 4
Top Hitter - Henry Davis: 1-4, R, RBI, BB, HR
Top Pitcher - Drake Fellows: 4 IP, 2 H, 5 K
Altoona Curve - 4 vs Bowie Baysox - 1
Top Hitter - Brenden Dixon: 1-3, R, HR, 4 RBI
Top Pitcher - Scott Randall: 4 IP, 3 H, 3 K
Greensboro Grasshoppers - 4 vs Winston Salem Dash - 2
Top Hitter - Hudson Head: 3-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B, HR
Top Pitcher - Patrick Reilly: 7 IP, 4 H, ER, BB, 6 K
Bradenton Marauders - 0 vs Jupiter Hammerheads - 1
Top Hitter - Axiel Plaz: 1-4
Top Pitcher - Carlos Jimenez: 6 IP, 2 H, BB, 7 K
FCL Pirates - 12 vs FCL Orioles - 9
Top Hitter - Richard Ramirez: 3-4, 2 R, RBI, 2B
Top Pitcher - Jonawel Valdez: 4 IP, 5 H, 3 BB, K
DSL Pirates Black - 5 vs DSL Orioles Orange - 3
Top Hitter - Andres Villafane: 2-4, R, RBI
Top Pitcher - Marlon Quintana: 3.2 IP, 2 BB, 5 K
DSL Pirates Gold - 12 vs FCL Red Sox Blue - 3
Top Hitter - Edward Florentino: 2-3, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2B, HR
Top Pitcher - Dariel Francia: 4.1 IP, 3 H, 4 K
Congratulations on your one year anniversary. Love the site, hope you guys keep up the great work
I'll share my opinion / 'beliefs' as well since this is Draft Day. I've shared this before so groundhog day post. Not looking for any 'but Ben is an idiot' debates today... this is what I (maybe more of an idiot) would do. Draft whoever they think is the best available player. Why? 1) I don't trust any 'advanced' (used WAY too often) college bat to contribute in the next two years so any positional need would need filled via trade or signing. 2) Any draftee CAN be used in a trade to fill a need and some teams may want a younger (high school) or older (college) 'prospect' in a trade so since we will have NO idea what team may be part of a trade - you draft best available. 3) Ben related so brace yourself - I disagree with those who think Ben will draft because he has to save his job. Totally IMO, I think the threats to his job (not necessarily our opinions of his job) are WAY overblown so I don't think that will make a college player more likely (supporting my opinion on who they draft).
To be honest I love the insights shared here(thank you)) and the predictions elsewhere but as I have perused the wasteland that drafts can be (a lot in the first round and WAY beyond a Pirates only statement), I have slightly lost interest in following it quite as close. Outside of your unicorns (hello Mr. Skenes), the immediate impact as compared to NFL and NBA is just so drastically different that all the post draft or even 2 or 3 years post draft debates are almost useless. I will get excited around pick 6 or 7 as we will get a good feel for who may be available.. I also get a kick seeing the usually 2 - 3 high school kids who aren't picked early (Bubba like) and start wondering if the Pirates will be the team to snag them.
Have fun everybody!!