With their 15th round pick in the 2022 MLB draft, the Pittsburgh Pirates selected first baseman Josiah Sightler out of South Carolina.
The Pirates went with back-to-back picks from the University of South Carolina in the 14th/15th rounds. Sightler is a huge/strong 22-year-old (turns 23 in October) first baseman, who stands 6’5″, 235 pounds. He’s a lefty hitter and thrower. He played four seasons at South Carolina, though he was only a regular the last two seasons. Combined over his college career, he hit .265/.358/.494 in 127 games. He was a 12th round pick of the Cincinnati Reds in 2018 out of high school when he was more of a pitching prospect. He pitched briefly in all four seasons of college ball, and while he had 16 strikeouts in 13 innings, he also had a 7.62 ERA and a 1.69 WHIP.
This season Sightler hit .300/.408/.629 in 51 games, with 11 doubles and 15 homers. That OPS was 117 points higher than the second best mark on his team. He’s a power profile, with average walk rates and no speed, as you might guess from his size.
Here’s a video of a long homer this year
