Pirates 2024 draft: Prep kids lead class into 2025 season
The Pirates drafted prep heavy in the 2024 draft, and attention will be on them heading into 2025
After taking Paul Skenes in the 2023 draft, the Pirates reverted to the norm under Ben Cherington and selected a hitter in 2024.
It was the fifth draft class under Cherington and the second one that they took a prep hitter. They opted for the super-talented Konnor Griffin, who didn’t make his official debut but played in the bridge league at the complex after the FCL season.
The Pirates used four of their first five picks on prep players, selecting a near-perfect balance of hitters and pitchers throughout their 21 picks (19 of which were signed).
The Prep Kids
Konnor Griffin
Wyatt Sanford
Levi Sterling
Eddie Rynders
They didn’t stop with Griffin, as they followed that up with two more players from the prep ranks before finally taking a college pitcher—just to take another high school prospect in the next round.
Griffin has the chance to be a 30/30 star, with elite speed and power potential to go with it. He should start the year in Bradenton, with a shot to finish the season in Greensboro if things go well.
The other three will likely start in the FCL, with a chance to make it to Bradenton by the end of the season.
Wyatt Sanford was one of the best defensive prep shortstops in the class and has solid bat-to-ball skills. Watching how much he impacts the ball will be the biggest thing to watch from him in 2025 and beyond. The profile takes a giant leap forward if he grows into some added power. If not, he still has the defensive chops and contact ability to become a starting shortstop in the majors.
The Pirates generally take one prep pitcher early in the draft and sign him to an over-slot deal, with Levi Sterling being this year’s edition. He has an advanced change-up and is a natural strike-thrower, but the key is whether the fastball velocity trends up at all.
With the change-up already in his arsenal and the ability to throw strikes, he could make quick work of the FCL.
Eddie Rynders was a little less known than the rest, but word has quickly spread on his raw plus power potential. He may be a name that won’t see Bradenton this year, but that’s not necessarily bad.
College Pitchers
Matt Ager
Connor Wietgrefe
Gavin Adams
Jacob Bimbi
Matt McShane
Jake Shirk
Josh Hartle*
The Pirates included Josh Hartle in the Spencer Horwitz trade. He was the first non-prep player they selected last year.
Matt Ager entered the 2024 draft cycle as a potential day-one pick but slipped after he struggled. He has a good fastball and slider, with a solid frame that should hold velocity well.
There’s a good chance he begins 2024 in the Greensboro rotation, but don’t be overly shocked if he spends a month or two in Bradenton to get used to the pro game (he didn’t pitch after getting drafted).
Connor Wietgrefe pitched well for Bradenton down the stretch and could start the year in the Greensboro rotation, but he is likely a reliever long-term. Jacob Bimbi pitched a few times at the end of 2024 and is an interesting day-three pick to watch as the Pirates signed him to an over-slot deal.
Gavin Adams missed all of 2024 due to Tommy John, but he was an interesting transfer player to watch before the injury. His fastball has reached triple digits. Jake Shirk didn’t pitch but was a senior signing who threw 270 innings at Wright State.
They are both options for the Marauders, Shirk as a starter and Adams in the bullpen (if he’s ready for the start of the season).
Matt McShane flashed some encouraging fastball metrics in a limited data sample size. He’s a reliever that should start the year in Bradenton.
College Hitters
Will Taylor
Duce Gourson
Derek Berg
Camden Janik
Ian Farrow
Ethan Lege
Andrew Patrick
Five of the seven names here made their official pro debut at the end of the 2024 season with Bradenton, with Duce Gourson making it to Greensboro. He should begin 2025 there after posting a .524 OPS in 47 plate appearances.
Will Taylor played football and baseball at Clemson before settling with the latter and getting selected in the fifth round. His first hit was a grand slam with the Marauders. There’s a chance he’s in Bradenton to start, but he should head to Greensboro rather quickly.
Derek Berg and Camden Janik should compete for playing time as backups at catcher in the lower levels. Berg played in Bradenton but struggled at the plate. They’ll get moved around to get into the lineup but won’t beat out Richard Ramirez (FCL), Axiel Plaz (A), or Omar Alfonzo (A+) for playing time behind the plate.
Ian Farrow didn’t play last year after getting drafted but hit 15 home runs his final year in college. There are a lot of outfielders in the lower levels, so someone is going to get pushed up. Farrow or Taylor could be two of them.
Ethan Lege showed solid contact skills in a small sample size but also had poor exit velocity numbers. He’s a corner infielder who will have to fight for playing time with some of the international prospects in the lower levels.
Andrew Patrick picked up eight hits, walked nine times, and stole four bases in 54 plate appearances with Bradenton, but also struck out 19 times. He’s another outfielder whose assignment will be interesting.
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I have I hope for this draft I like the potential in the batters the young arms it’s a long way from finding out how successful they were, and who they selected, but there is more upside in this draft than in many in recent memory.