With their second pick in the draft, the Pirates took prep third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes. Surprisingly, they went the next 12 picks drafting college or JuCo guys before taking another prep player. That came in the 19th round, when they took projectable left-hander Ike Schlabach. They’ve also been on a pitching run lately, with their last seven picks being pitchers. Outside of their top four picks, which were all hitters, they have drafted pitchers with 13 of 18 selections. – Tim Williams
16th Round, 487th Overall: Nick Hibbing, RHP, Iowa
Hibbing is a tall, right-handed relief pitcher from the University of Iowa. He had strong stats as a senior, posting a 1.57 ERA and a 5:47 BB/SO ratio in 51.2 innings. Last year, he had a 4.74 ERA in 43.2 innings and issued 15 walks, which isn’t bad, but nowhere near his 2015 control numbers. As a senior, he should sign very quick and get his pro career started. – John Dreker
17th Round, 517th Overall: Austin Sodders, LHP, Riverside CC
Sodders made 11 starts as a sophomore in 2015 for Riverside CC and posted a 2.03 ERA in 79.2 innings. He had a .256 BAA and an 11:58 BB/SO ratio. In high school, he dominated with a fastball that reached high-80’s and a mid-70’s curve. He was both a top pitcher and hitter, but went undrafted out of high school. He comes from a strong baseball family. His dad was drafted in 1981 in the 11th round and his older brother was drafted in the 31st round in 2010. At his size/age, he seems like a projectable arm with some possible upside. – John Dreker
18th Round, 547th Overall: Stephan Meyer, RHP, Bellevue University
Meyer had a good year with Bellevue this year, posting a 1.47 ERA in 92 innings, along with a 101:30 K/BB ratio. This came after he didn’t pitch much as a freshman last year, throwing just 17 innings, with a 4.76 ERA and a 14:9 K/BB ratio. He did throw in high school, pitching 54.2 innings in his senior year, but was a red shirt in 2013, and has had a low innings count overall in college. He’s got a typical projectable frame as a tall right-hander. He didn’t rate in Baseball America’s rankings of a poor class in Nebraska. – Tim Williams
19th Round, 577th Overall: Ike Schlabach, LHP, Timber Creek HS (TX)
Schlabach is a tall, lanky left-hander and the first high school player the Pirates took in the 2015 draft since Ke’Bryan Hayes, who was taken 32nd overall. He has a fastball that sits high 80’s and touches low-90’s, plus he has plenty of room to grow, so he could obviously see a spike in velocity. He gets high marks for his makeup, work ethic and competitiveness. Schlabach was not among the top 99 players in Texas according to Baseball America, in what they consider an average year for the state. He has a commitment to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, so that should be a school the Pirates could sign a player away from for the right offer. – John Dreker
20th Round, 607th Overall: Tanner Anderson, RHP, Harvard
Anderson split time between the rotation and the bullpen this year, putting up a 4.08 ERA in 46.1 innings, with a 22:14 K/BB ratio. This came after missing the entire 2014 season with an injury. The stats aren’t overly impressive, but he throws in the 88-92 MPH range, topping out at 94, with a curve and a slider. He’s going to be an easy guy to sign as a college senior, and will likely pitch out of the bullpen in pro ball, with the hope that his fastball velocity plays up in shorter outings. – Tim Williams
