The ones that 'got away': How Cherington's unsigned draft picks are faring

How are the players the Pirates haven't signed in the draft under Cherington performing.

There has been four drafts during the time that Ben Cherington has been the General Manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates, and through them they have failed to sign just five players they selected.

It’s usually more noticeable when a prep player decides to go the campus route, since usually the Pirates are shooting for an ‘over slot’ type deal to sign them, but there a couple of college kids that went back to school after being selected.

Since the College Baseball season just got underway, it seemed like a good time to catch up with the few players that didn’t sign after being drafted by the Pirates.

Chazz Martinez - 12th round, 2001 draft

There was no player from the 2020 draft to not sign, as it was just five rounds due to COVID. So, technically speaking, Martinez was the first pick they didn’t sign.

After pitching at Orange Coast College going into the draft, Martinez transferred to Oklahoma for the following season. He posted a 4-3 record with a 5.32 ERA pitching in 22 games - eight of which were starts. Martinez also struck out 67 in 64.1 innings pitched.

The extra year at school didn’t help his stock, as he slid to the 17th round the following year, getting picked up by the Kansas City Royals.

He pitched the entire 2023 season at Single-A Columbia, striking out 86 batters in 64 innings (29.9%) as a reliever, posting a 4.08 ERA.

Danny Corona - 16th round, 2021 draft

The 2021 draft is notable remembered for the Pirates going over slot with multiple prep players after taking Henry Davis with the first overall pick.

They didn’t sign every high school player they took though, with Corona being the one that did go the college route.

He started his career at Wake Forest, playing his freshman and sophomore years in Wintston-Salem. Corona had a really strong 2023 campaign, batting .285/.361/.609 with 13 home runs and 45 RBI.

One of the key pieces in Wake Forest’s postseason run, Corona hit a total of six home runs between the Regional and Super-Regional last year.

After two years at Wake Forest, Corona transferred to Missouri, where he will play his draft eligible season at.

He picked up three hits in 11 at-bats with a RBI and stolen base Opening Weekend.

KC Hunt - 12th round, 2022 draft

His full name is Kyle Clemente Hunt, so it’s obvious where he got part of that from. Hunt’s numbers never really jumped off the page in college, posting a 7.67 career ERA while at Mississippi State in 53 games. He did reach triple digits in strikeouts (102) in just 81 innings, but also walked 56.

He went undrafted the second time around, and later signed with the Milwaukee Brewers, pitching in four games with the Complex League team in Arizona, allowing two earned runs while striking out five in 4.1 innings pitched.

Yoel Tejeda Jr. - 19th round, 2022 draft

A towering 6’8” two-way player, Tejeda Jr. decided to go the college route with the Florida Gators. He didn’t hit for the Gators but did make six starts on the mound (eight total appearances).

He finished with a 2-0 record but walked more (12) than he struck out (11) in 22.2 innings pitched.

After the season he transferred to Florida State, where he will be a draft eligible sophomore. He did pitch well in the Cape Cod League, posting a 1-1 record with a 2.79 ERA while striking out 21 and walking 10 in 19.1 innings.

There was some intriguing video that came out during a Florida State scrimmage, but after a weekend series and midweek game, Tejeda has yet to see the mound this season for the Seminoles.

Daniel Cuvet - 17th round, 2023 draft

Ranked as the 223rd best prospect in the 2023 draft, the Pirates took a swing at signing Cuvet in the 17th round despite his commitment to Miami.

He ended up on campus for Coral Gables and was immediately plugged into the clean up spot as a true freshman for the Hurricanes.

Cuvet went 9-for-13 with four extra base hits (two home runs, two doubles) with seven total RBI the opening weekend.