With their fifth round pick (138th overall) in the 2020 MLB draft, the Pittsburgh Pirates selected right-handed pitcher Logan Hofmann out of Northwestern State. After taking infielder Nick Gonzales with their first round pick, the Pirates finished off this year’s draft with five straight right-handed pitchers.
Hofmann was rated 478th by Baseball America and was taken in the fifth round, so it now appears that the Pirates had to go over slot for at least one of their earlier picks. Their fourth round pick was a college senior rated 286th, so that should get them a lot of savings on top of this pick. Those savings can only be used on draft picks, which points to one (or more) of their top four picks requiring a higher bonus. Teams can still sign players for $20,000 (or less) bonuses as non-drafted free agents, but that money doesn’t come from the draft bonus pool.
Hofmann doesn’t have much of a scouting report, with Baseball America saying that he throws 90-91 MPH, with a 12-to-6 power curve. He pitched well in the Cape Cod League last summer and he had 38 strikeouts in 28 innings this year before play was shut down. He allowed just three runs this season, all unearned.
In an interview yesterday with his local news, Hofmann said that he was hitting 94 MPH this year and commanding his pitches better. He also noted that he was throwing all four of his pitches, adding a slider and a changeup to his other two pitches.
He turns 21 late this year and stands in at 5’10”, 190 pounds. Here’s a brief video from D1 Baseball:
Our Draft Signing Tracker has been updated. Signing deadline is August 1st this year.
