Just for S&G here are the Pirates First Round Picks since 2013:
2013 - #9 Austin Meadows, #14 Reese McGuire
2014 - #24 Cole Tucker
2015 - #19 Kevin Newman
2016 - #22 Will Craig
2017 - #12 Shane Baz
2018 - #10 Travis Swaggerty
2019 - #18 Quinn Priester
2020 - # 7 Nick Gonzales
2021 - # 1 Henry Davis
2022 - # 4 Termarr Johnson
2023 - # 1 Paul Skenes
2024 - # 9 Konnor Griffin
In the 7 drafts between 2013 and 2019, all of the First Rounders were traded or DFA'd. Our 2020 and 2021 #1's are hanging on by a thread.
In 2014 our 2nd Round Pick was Mitch Keller, part of our current Rotation. Our 2021 #1, Henry Davis, was drafted to save money to use on buying Bubba Chandler out of his commitment to Clemson. Chandler will join the Pirate Rotation in 2025. In 2020, the CB-A and 2nd Round picks were Carmen Mlodzinski and Jared Jones. Jones was a Rookie SP in our 2024 Rotation and "Mudge' was a key long and short reliever last year for the Pirates. 2023 #1 Paul Skenes was also a Rookie part of the Rotation in 2024. Good things have happened in the BC Drafts - soon to be 60% of the Rotation in 2025 and probably 80% of the Rotation by the end of 2025.
The trades were mostly poorly executed, but I do feel like it says something positive that we were able to flip recent draftees for, in theory, what was supposed to be immediate big league help (plus our savior Billy Cook). Even moreso that we sent away some middle and later round guys. With how little chance there is that guys drafted later ever make an impact, its decent resource management to flip them early in my opinion
My problem with Jebb is where they drafted him(2nd round 3 overall).You can get those "hit first profiles" later in the draft and a ton in rounds 3-5th.
And I know he crushed the Cape and lead the league in batting average that year but I'm telling you can find these guys in the draft in later rounds. I can go back and look and name at least 7-10 players with similar profiles and got drafted way later.
And don't get me stated on how the Pirates deployed him defensively. Now, they made him position-less not versatile🤷♂️
Edit** People don't realize the player Jebb has to become to have a valued return on a pick that high. At least one AS season at the ML level for that pick to be a good one.
I think there is a disconnect between the teams drafting of pitchers and hitters. As noted in the article the team has a solid plan when drafting the pitchers of seeking upside. Drafting closers with intriguing stuff and giving them starting opportunities, or with great stuff and lower velo ie Harrington.
Conversely with the hitters they draft it seems for positional flexibility rather than for offensive upside. Consistently drafting punch and judy bats instead of physical tools that show a ceiling ie someone like a Billy Cook.
With that in mind I couldn't be happier with last years 1st round pick Konnor Griffin. I am really hopeful that they work on their development team responsible for supporting him and others. Now you will not obviously find a Griffin or Termarr in the 2nd or later rounds the drafting should search for indicators of potential. Specifically bat speed and physical size with athleticism.
In the case of someone like Jebb, where speed and hit tool are the calling cards they have to be elite to be successful. The move to CF is a good move for him for sure and hopefully he can improve his OBP and become a force on the basepaths. I worry that his upside is similar to Bae. (... who I am still a fan of if he could translate his minors success to mlb.)
Jebb's numbers took a decidedly downward dip between A and A+ in 2024. OPS dropped from .780 to .696. In a lower amount of AB at A he had 17 BB/11 K - good. But at A+ I already mentioned the drop in OPS, and his BB were at 56 BB with 95 K - a big difference from A and not good for a 22 year old player drafted out of college. More is and should be expected. For instance, TJ played much of 2024 at A+ as a young 20 year old and managed to hit 13 HR in over 400 AB, and his 78 BB/105 K is a better rate.
With MI's coming out of our ears, and TJ drafted in 2022, it makes me wonder why Jebb was considered a necessity to be drafted that early by the Pirates in 2023. Good point.
Just for S&G here are the Pirates First Round Picks since 2013:
2013 - #9 Austin Meadows, #14 Reese McGuire
2014 - #24 Cole Tucker
2015 - #19 Kevin Newman
2016 - #22 Will Craig
2017 - #12 Shane Baz
2018 - #10 Travis Swaggerty
2019 - #18 Quinn Priester
2020 - # 7 Nick Gonzales
2021 - # 1 Henry Davis
2022 - # 4 Termarr Johnson
2023 - # 1 Paul Skenes
2024 - # 9 Konnor Griffin
In the 7 drafts between 2013 and 2019, all of the First Rounders were traded or DFA'd. Our 2020 and 2021 #1's are hanging on by a thread.
In 2014 our 2nd Round Pick was Mitch Keller, part of our current Rotation. Our 2021 #1, Henry Davis, was drafted to save money to use on buying Bubba Chandler out of his commitment to Clemson. Chandler will join the Pirate Rotation in 2025. In 2020, the CB-A and 2nd Round picks were Carmen Mlodzinski and Jared Jones. Jones was a Rookie SP in our 2024 Rotation and "Mudge' was a key long and short reliever last year for the Pirates. 2023 #1 Paul Skenes was also a Rookie part of the Rotation in 2024. Good things have happened in the BC Drafts - soon to be 60% of the Rotation in 2025 and probably 80% of the Rotation by the end of 2025.
At least in 2016 they got a future Cherington baserunning coach.
The trades were mostly poorly executed, but I do feel like it says something positive that we were able to flip recent draftees for, in theory, what was supposed to be immediate big league help (plus our savior Billy Cook). Even moreso that we sent away some middle and later round guys. With how little chance there is that guys drafted later ever make an impact, its decent resource management to flip them early in my opinion
My problem with Jebb is where they drafted him(2nd round 3 overall).You can get those "hit first profiles" later in the draft and a ton in rounds 3-5th.
And I know he crushed the Cape and lead the league in batting average that year but I'm telling you can find these guys in the draft in later rounds. I can go back and look and name at least 7-10 players with similar profiles and got drafted way later.
And don't get me stated on how the Pirates deployed him defensively. Now, they made him position-less not versatile🤷♂️
Edit** People don't realize the player Jebb has to become to have a valued return on a pick that high. At least one AS season at the ML level for that pick to be a good one.
I think there is a disconnect between the teams drafting of pitchers and hitters. As noted in the article the team has a solid plan when drafting the pitchers of seeking upside. Drafting closers with intriguing stuff and giving them starting opportunities, or with great stuff and lower velo ie Harrington.
Conversely with the hitters they draft it seems for positional flexibility rather than for offensive upside. Consistently drafting punch and judy bats instead of physical tools that show a ceiling ie someone like a Billy Cook.
With that in mind I couldn't be happier with last years 1st round pick Konnor Griffin. I am really hopeful that they work on their development team responsible for supporting him and others. Now you will not obviously find a Griffin or Termarr in the 2nd or later rounds the drafting should search for indicators of potential. Specifically bat speed and physical size with athleticism.
In the case of someone like Jebb, where speed and hit tool are the calling cards they have to be elite to be successful. The move to CF is a good move for him for sure and hopefully he can improve his OBP and become a force on the basepaths. I worry that his upside is similar to Bae. (... who I am still a fan of if he could translate his minors success to mlb.)
Jebb's numbers took a decidedly downward dip between A and A+ in 2024. OPS dropped from .780 to .696. In a lower amount of AB at A he had 17 BB/11 K - good. But at A+ I already mentioned the drop in OPS, and his BB were at 56 BB with 95 K - a big difference from A and not good for a 22 year old player drafted out of college. More is and should be expected. For instance, TJ played much of 2024 at A+ as a young 20 year old and managed to hit 13 HR in over 400 AB, and his 78 BB/105 K is a better rate.
With MI's coming out of our ears, and TJ drafted in 2022, it makes me wonder why Jebb was considered a necessity to be drafted that early by the Pirates in 2023. Good point.
This organization has loved punch n Judy middle infielders since Nutting took over. He must’ve loved Mark Belanger as a kid or something.
Most pics from the Early second round don’t even make the majors.
Probably 20% of first round picks don't make MLB.
It doesn't mean that pick isn't still super valuable and what is "expected" from a pick that high.