The 2018 MLB amateur draft is just two days away now and it seems very likely that the Pittsburgh Pirates will select a prep pitcher, unless a bigger name falls to them with their tenth overall pick. There are a lot of highly rated prep pitchers in this draft who we have covered here since February and different names keep popping up, including a new one last night.
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Baseball America put out a new mock draft last night and they have the Pirates going for Carter Stewart with the tenth overall pick. In most mock drafts, he is rated as someone who they could choose as a backup plan, but he’s never their choice. Stewart seems to have huge potential. The 6’6″, 18-year-old right-handed pitcher has touched 98 MPH this season and has a curveball that is described as having plus-plus potential. He’s still a little raw and has plenty of room to fill out, which gives him huge upside. We profiled Stewart here back in early April.
Cole Winn, who seems to be the popular choice for the Pirates, is going to the Orioles with the 11th pick. So the guy who most people think they will go for, is still on their mock draft board when the Pirates pick. We profiled Winn here (link also includes Grayson Rodriguez, who is a name that comes up for Pirates occasionally).
BA also makes mention of toolsy prep outfielder Jordyn Adams as a possibility for the Pirates. This is one who is extremely intriguing. There might not be more upside in the entire draft, but he’s a two-sport star, so there is some rawness to his game, as well as a high price tag to keep him out of college. If you’re a risk taker going for a big payoff, this is the pick. Here’s the profile for Adams.
The other choice for the Pirates could be Ryan Weathers, a prep lefty who has a nice fastball/curve combo and is more advanced than your average prep pitcher. This would be one of those picks, similar to Cole Winn, where you’re getting your top 10-15 range first round talent, but you’re not taking the risk of Adams or Stewart. You’re sacrificing some upside for a much better floor. We profiled Weathers here.
Keith Law had a mock draft on Thursday and in it he had the Pirates taking Matthew Liberatore. He would qualify as one of those players who they hope drops to them. I don’t think he will, but with slot money and bonus pools involved in these picks now involved, it’s not out of the question that he drops. Some teams go safer with their early picks in hope of landing someone who falls in the first round with their second pick.
If all six of these names above are available to the Pirates when they make the tenth overall pick on Monday night, I think Liberatore is their pick. I think there’s a slim chance he’s available though, but the other five could all be on the board. We hear Winn mentioned the most, but there are whispers out there for Adams and that seems like it would be a very gutsy move. If you’re willing to be patient, then the reward of taking Adams could be huge.
