MLB Pipeline updated their draft prospect rankings for the first time since releasing their top 100 back in February. They expanded their rankings to include 150 players and also made some changes among the top 100 based on information they received since putting together the initial list.
While this isn’t a mock draft, we can look at the players they have rated where the Pittsburgh Pirates make their first three picks. It might not give you the exact players the Pirates are interested in selecting, but it gives you a good idea of the talent level available at those spots.
The Pirates pick seventh overall and Pipeline has Zac Veen in that spot. He’s an 18-year-old outfielder from Florida, who stands 6’4″, 190 pounds. Veen has been called a potential five-tool center fielder by the scouts who are highest on him, with his hit tool ranking as his best. You can read much more on Veen here in our Draft Prospect Watch that featured him. I’ve included a different video from the two included in that link, with those two videos being the best available for him in case you want to see much more.
At the 31st spot, where the Pirates make their second pick, Pipeline has Slade Cecconi, a 6’4″, 229 pound right-handed pitcher from the University of Miami. He throws four pitches, with two of them being above average and two being below average. His fastball/slider combo alone gives him the upside of a high leverage reliever, while work on his curve and changeup could lead to him remaining as a starter. He’s a draft-eligible sophomore, who missed a lot of mound time during his senior year in HS. So there’s a bit of raw talent here mixed with upside.
Here’s video from earlier this year, courtesy of Perfect Game
In the 44th spot, Pipeline has JT Ginn, who was a first round pick out of high school in 2018, but decided to go to Mississippi State. The 6’2″ right-hander found out earlier this year that he needed Tommy John surgery. Before that announcement, he looked like a lock to be selected in the first round again. When healthy, Ginn was showing three above average pitches (FB/SL/CH) with plenty of movement. He also showed command/control of his pitches. He’s another player who we covered earlier this year, right after the TJ surgery news. That link has the best video I could find at the time, but here’s another just to see more.
This is from Prospect Live and it was recorded in June. It includes a slow-mo of his pitching mechanics.
I’ll also add news from today. The Red Sox had their 52nd overall pick taken away by MLB due to their sign stealing scandal. That means that all of the Pirates draft picks from the third round on move up one spot. We still don’t know how many rounds the draft will be this year, but we do know that this means slightly more money that the Pirates can spend. Their third round pick moved from 80 to 79 today.
