Kendall Rogers of Perfect Game had the following update about 2011 17th round pick Aaron Brown:
Also heard just now that #Pirates 17th-rd pick OF Aaron Brown may or may not head to #Pepperdine. #Pittsburgh coming on strong. #mlbdraft
Brown was the 149th ranked prospect in the draft, according to Baseball America, listed as a two way player: a left handed pitcher and an outfielder. The Pirates drafted him as a right fielder, which could rule out his future as a pitcher. They took a similar approach with first baseman Jared Lakind last year. He can throw 90 MPH as a pitcher, so he fits well in right field. Brown would be one of the key over-slot targets for the Pirates, and this news is definitely encouraging. It doesn’t say much about his decision, but the fact that the Pirates are coming on strong is good to hear.
The Pirates started signing guys like Ryan Hafner and Jared Lakind last year around the 10th. I wouldn’t imagine the big deals for later round guys will come any earlier this year.
Tim started Pirates Prospects in 2009 from his home in Virginia, which was 40 minutes from where Pedro Alvarez made his pro debut in Lynchburg. That year, the Lynchburg Hillcats won the Carolina League championship, and Pirates Prospects was born from Tim's reporting along the way. The site has grown over the years to include many more writers, and Tim has gone on to become a credentialed MLB reporter, producing Pirates Prospects each year, and will publish his 11th Prospect Guide this offseason. He has also served as the Pittsburgh Pirates correspondent for Baseball America since 2019. Behind the scenes, Tim is an avid music lover, and most of the money he gets paid to run this site goes to vinyl records.
Was he previously considered strongly leaning to college?
Good news!