The Pirates go prep heavy on day one of MLB Draft
Pirates take three prep players on day one of the 2024 MLB Draft
Putting Paul Skenes aside, the Pirates have gone a particular way with their first-round picks under Ben Cherington.
They’ve taken three-hit first profiles that didn’t offer much else outside their ability to hit.
Nick Gonzales would always be limited to second base, and his value would come with his bat.
There were always questions about whether Henry Davis could stick behind the plate when he was drafted first overall in 2021. His bat was supposed to carry him to the majors anyway.
Termarr Johnson was touted as one of the best prep hitters to go through the draft in some time. Like Gonzales, he would be limited to second base, and it would have to be the bat that carried him to the majors.
Come the 2024 draft, they couldn’t have gone a more different direction, taking Konnor Griffin with their first pick, ninth overall. Labeled as having some of the most upside in the entire draft, some believe that with his combination of speed and power, he could push the 30/30 envelope if things continue to come together.
With plus to double-plus run times and a cannon for an arm, Griffin brings a rare blend of athleticism and upside that the Pirates don’t have in the system right now regarding position players.
He stole over 80 bases this past season for his high school team.
It was even believed that he could be an early-round selection as a pitcher.
Taking Griffin comes with its risks; there are some questions about his hit tool and his status as a prep player in general, but taking someone with his athletic toolset comes with its bonuses.
When it comes to the picks of Johnson, Davis, and Gonzales, all of their value completely comes from them being able to hit. If they can’t hit, it’s hard to carry a bench second base-only player (Gonzales and Johnson) or, even worse, someone who doesn’t have a defensive home (Davis).
Griffin is a shortstop with the tools to stick at the most premium position. Even if, by chance, he has to move off it, he could fit right in at center field and be a plus defender there, at another premium defender.
Getting a player that can play good defense at a premium position is rare. Getting someone who can do it at two premium positions is special.
With their second pick of the night, the Pirates took Levi Sterling in the Competitive Balance Round—37th overall.
A right-handed prep pitcher, the Pirates leaned into what they do best with this pick.
Between Jared Jones, Bubba Chandler, Michael Kennedy, and Zander Mueth, the Pirates have quite the history of taking prep pitchers and allowing their athleticism to play as they find their upside.
Sterling is one of the youngest players in the draft, as he won’t turn 18 until later this year. He has a projectable frame for when he should be able to add velocity down the road.
Even so, the fastball already has a lot of life up in the zone—something the Pirates value—and throws from a three-quarters arm slot. He has a curveball that has the potential to be a double-plus pitch, which will pair well with an elevated fastball.
He also has a slider and change-up that most believe could become at least average.
The Pirates excel at this, and they’ve leaned into it and are doing it again.
He has one leg up that maybe someone like Jones, Chandler, and Mueth didn’t have—multiple sites already talk about his ability to throw strikes.
Even if the velocity doesn’t tick too much up (standing at 6’5”, 170 pounds, it’s hard to imagine it doesn’t), Sterling has the kind of life on the fastball—along with the secondary stuff—to allow him to have success.
On day one, the Pirates tripled down on prep players, taking shortstop Wyatt Sanford with the 47th overall pick.
One of the better defensive shortstops in the draft class, Sanford is widely believed to be able to stay at the position throughout the minors and beyond.
He’s a fantastic contact hitter, but he will have to become more of a gap hitter due to his lack of power.
Even if the power never comes, he’s a high-contact hitter who can play a premium position with plus speed. There is a positive, though, and that’s his bat speed.
If the Pirates are able to help him utilize his plus bat speed and add some power behind it, there could be some added potential there.
The defense throughout the system hasn’t been the best. It has cost teams runs and added stress on pitchers' arms; going with two players who will help out in a positive way defensively—at premium positions—will go a long way in helping that.
In previous years, the Pirates would take position players who seemed limited defensively and put them out of place elsewhere. Due to his speed and lack of arm strength, Mitch Jebb fits more as a second baseman or even center fielder, but he has been playing shortstop regularly.
So, even if the Sanford pick feels limited offensively, the fact that he is younger has a chance to improve and is a fit at shortstop is better than forcing someone else out of position.
Taking three prep players on day one probably means they’ll have to go the savings route with a few of their picks on Monday.
Regardless, the system has sorely needed this kind of talent and upside, especially on the hitting side of things.
They added two players who can play premium positions and have offensive upside, which is a big win for the Pirates.
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Hunter Stratton just got sent on rehab to the FCL, so there's some progress.
One, projecting the hit tool is almost complete BS. Everybody absolutely sucks at this.
B, there isn't a chance in hell that 18 yo Oneil Cruz had better hit tool projection than Griffin and the Pirates have done just fine developing the former into a budding star.