The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed Connor Joe, the 39th overall pick. They acquired the pick from the Miami Marlins for reliever Bryan Morris. Joe announced the signing on Twitter Monday night.
Thank you to the @Pirates organization for the opportunity to live my dream. Very excited to get back to work #BUCN pic.twitter.com/wN8ZosLNMp
— Connor Joe (@cojo__18) June 17, 2014
No terms of the deal were immediately announced, but his signing bonus will have a big impact on what the Pirates do with their remaining unsigned picks that will require over-slot bonuses. Joe’s draft spot had a value of $1,457,600.
The Pirates announced Joe as an outfielder, though he can also play catcher and first base. He will likely report to Jamestown this week.
You can read more about Joe on his player page.
Ninth round pick Kevin Krause is the only Pirates picks in the top ten rounds that hasn’t signed yet.
John started working at Pirates Prospects in 2009, but his connection to the Pittsburgh Pirates started exactly 100 years earlier when Dots Miller debuted for the 1909 World Series champions. John was born in Kearny, NJ, two blocks from the house where Dots Miller grew up. From that hometown hero connection came a love of Pirates history, as well as the sport of baseball.
When he didn't make it as a lefty pitcher with an 80+ MPH fastball and a slider that needed work, John turned to covering the game, eventually focusing in on the prospects side, where his interest was pushed by the big league team being below .500 for so long. John has covered the minors in some form since the 2002 season, and leads the draft and international coverage on Pirates Prospects. He writes daily on Pittsburgh Baseball History, when he's not covering the entire system daily throughout the entire year on Pirates Prospects.
Kind of interesting that he didn’t make Tim’s Top 20 list. I was seriously hoping they’d not sign him, unless he took 3rd round money.
….and I wonder if these beans really are “magic” as that sketchy merchant indicated…..
I look forward to seeing how his career progresses. Hope he turns into a Pujols given the lack of love he’s gotten so far from many.