The Pittsburgh Pirates again went heavy with position players in the 41-45 rounds, although they did take two pitchers, and one of them stood out. 42nd round pick Nick Hibbing was considered a potential top 10 round pick up until missing a start with a tender ulnar nerve in his forearm. He’s got a commitment to Iowa, and the commitment to a major school combined with a 42nd round selection would definitely make him tough to sign.
Jonathan Schwind, C, 41st Round
Schwind was the 20th best prospect in a decent New York class this year. The Pirates drafted him as a catcher, although he played in the infield through most of his college career. He has quick hands, an above-average arm, and he’s a plus runner. His arm strength and speed combination will allow him to be a catcher, as well as play pretty much anywhere on the field. The speed hasn’t translated to stolen bases in his college career. He’s been a good hitter the last two years, with good gap power.
Nick Hibbing, RHP, 42nd Round
Hibbing was considered a potential top 10 round pick by scouts up until he missed a start with a tender ulnar nerve in his forearm. He throws an 88-91 MPH fastball, and has a curve ball that acts like a slider. He worked on his changeup in 2011, and the pitch saw improvements. Hibbing stuck out 76 in 45 innings in 2011, with a 1.09 ERA. He has a commitment to Iowa, making him a tough sign as a 42nd round pick.
William Argo, CF, 43rd Round
Argo was the fourth best prospect in a weak Illinois class this year. He struggled early in 2011, leading to a down year at the plate compared to previous years. Argo is a plus runner, showing his speed with 76 steals in his three year career. He also has some power potential. He homered in each of his first three at-bats at the college level in 2009. He has the range and arm strength to stick in center field.
Bobby LeCount, 3B, 44th Round
LeCount was the 25th best prospect in a decent Washington state class. He hit six homers in 108 at-bats in 2011 for Edmonds, with a .287 average. He also pitched, although the Pirates drafted him as a third baseman. He has a great arm, and his six homers led his team and ranked 10th in the NWAACC, which makes him appealing from the other side of the diamond.
Robert Ingram, LHP, 45th Round
Ingram got hit around a lot in 2011, and didn’t really put up great strikeout numbers. He throws around 85-87 MPH, although his projectable frame could allow him to add velocity. He’s also got loose arm action, which can help in that area. He wasn’t ranked in Baseball America’s top 50 Arizona prospects.
