The 2023 MLB Draft concludes today with rounds 11-20. For all of the picks in the first ten rounds, check out my column on Paul Skenes and my breakdown of the day two picks.
Follow all of the Pittsburgh Pirates picks below.
11th Round: Magdiel Cotto, LHP, Kentucky
Age: 21 | DOB: 6/24/02 | HT: 6′ 4″ | WT: 250 | B/T: L/L
Scouting Report
Cotto had a 6.00 ERA in 18 innings of relief with Kentucky, along with 26 strikeouts and nine walks. He’s teammates with eighth round right-hander Austin Strickland. He played last summer in the Cape Cod League, ranking as the 19th best prospect and putting up some impressive numbers. His control of his fastball was better in the Cape Cod, but slipped when he returned to Kentucky this year. His fastball averages 93 and gets up to 97. He throws a hard, tight slider in the mid-80s and a mid-to-upper 80s tumbling changeup. Baseball America rated him the number 267 overall prospect.
12th Round: Khristian Curtis, RHP, Arizona State
Age: 21 | DOB: 5/9/02 | HT: 6′ 5″ | WT: 210 | B/T: R/R
Scouting Report
Curtis was rated the 126th best prospect in this draft by Baseball America, with a 45/Extreme upside. He’s a big pitcher with a 93-94 MPH fastball that gets up to 97. His slider is firm, in the mid-to-upper 80s, with late bite and grades as an average pitch. His changeup is low-80s with above-average potential. He also has a below-average curveball and fringe-average control. Curtis posted a 7.03 ERA in 64 innings this year, striking out 58 and walking 35. He has very little time on the mound. He was a two-sport player in high school, as a pitching prospect and a basketball player. He didn’t pitch for Texas A&M in 2021, and only started five games in 2022 before a season-ending injury. His work in 2023 was more experience than his previous two college years, and perhaps more than his time in high school.
13th Round: Charles McAdoo, 2B, San Jose State
Age: 21 | DOB: 3/6/02 | HT: 6′ 2″ | WT: 210 | B/T: R/R
Scouting Report
McAdoo was rated the 342nd best prospect by Baseball America, after hitting .325/.409/.543 in 234 at-bats with San Jose State. This was the second season in a row where he had impressive offensive numbers. He also hit well with a wood bat in the Northwood League last summer. He showed great plate patience (15.2% strikeout rate, 11.9% walk rate), and hit 22 homers combined the last two years. McAdoo profiles as a second baseman or left fielder, due to an average arm and slightly below-average athleticism.
14th Round: Garrett McMillan, RHP, Alabama
Age: 22 | DOB: 2/10/01 | HT: 6′ 4″ | WT: 235 | B/T: L/R
Scouting Report
McMillan is a college senior, and was teammates with Pirates sixth round pick Hunter Furtado at Alabama. McMillan pitched out of the rotation this year, with a 4.89 ERA in 42.1 innings, along with a 36:17 K/BB ratio. He works in the low-90s with his fastball, getting arm-side run from a three-quarters delivery. He also throws a 12-to-6 curveball, which is his best offspeed pitch, and a changeup that offers about 10-12 MPH difference from the fastball. He missed time early in the 2023 season with a muscle strain in his shoulder, but pitched the rest of the season.
15th Round: John Lopez, C, Puerto Rico Baseball Academy
Age: 17 | DOB: 10/6/05 | HT: 5′ 8″ | WT: 170 | B/T: R/R
Scouting Report
Earlier this year, the Pirates added to their scouting department in Puerto Rico. That’s apparently worked out with the addition of Lopez, the first player the Pirates drafted out of Puerto Rico since Nelson Jorge in the 7th round in 2014. He grades well defensively, with good grades for receiving, blocking, an arm that can throw 90 MPH, and excellent release times. Offensively, he grades with fringe-to-average hitting, below-average power, and below-average running.
16th Round: Justin Miknis, C, Kent State
Age: 22 | DOB: 9/6/00 | HT: 6′ 0″ | WT: 195 | B/T: L/R
Scouting Report
Miknis is a college senior who hit .318/.398/.502 with eight homers in 233 at-bats with Kent State this year. The numbers during his freshman and sophomore year were similar, with a power bump after his freshman year. He has easy pull side power from the left side of the plate. Miknis was drafted as a catcher, but has also played first, second, and third. He played in the Cape Cod league the last two summers. He had a 15% caught stealing rate this year (2-for-13). Prior to his time at Kent State, he went to DuBois Central Catholic High in PA, and played for the Allegheny Pirates.
17th Round: Daniel Cuvet, 3B, ESB Academy
Age: 18 | DOB: 5/13/05 | HT: 6′ 4″ | WT: 225 | B/T: R/R
Scouting Report
Compiling the Baseball America and MLB Pipeline reports on Cuvet.
Hit (40): Cuvet has a lot of swing-and-miss issues from velocity over 92 MPH and breaking stuff.
Power (60): His power is his best tool, grading out as raw, with a chance to be elite. He has top-end exit velocities in the triple-digits, nearing 110.
Run (35): Cuvet is a below-average runner whose frame profiles as a first baseman.
Field (40+): Cuvet needs to improve his hands, footwork, and actions at third base. He could improve with a move across the diamond.
Arm (60): Cuvet’s arm is plus, and works best at third base or right field.
Overall (40+): Cuvet was rated the 177th best prospect by Baseball America, and 223rd by MLB Pipeline. His carrying tool is his plus power. He profiles long-term as a first baseman, due to a below-average run tool. The Pirates will have to develop the hit tool, or find a way to improve his fielding skills at third, to develop a starter profile.
18th Round: Kalae Harrison, SS, NC State
Age: 21 | DOB: 6/5/02 | HT: 5′ 11″ | WT: 188 | B/T: L/R
Scouting Report
Harrison batted .313/.436/.426 in 195 at-bats with NC State last year. He shows excellent plate patience, with more walks (37) than strikeouts (28). His power is extra bases from a line drive stroke. An average hit tool and below-average running round out his offense. He grades as an average fielder up the middle, with good movement and glove work. His arm is fringe, which would move him to second base long-term.
19th Round: Tyler Kennedy, RHP, Florida SouthWestern State College
Age: 21 | DOB: 6/7/02 | HT: 6′ 4″ | WT: 225 | B/T: R/R
Scouting Report
Kennedy transferred to Florida SouthWestern State College from the University of Pittsburgh in 2022. He was a starter this year, where he had a 4.99 ERA in 48.2 innings, with a 59:27 K/BB ratio. He followed that up by playing for Williamsport in the MLB Draft League this summer. His fastball averaged 94-95 MPH, touching 97 in the league. He paired that with an upper 80s changeup and a sharp slider at 77-81 MPH.
20th Round: Peyton Stumbo, RHP, Nevada
Age: 21 | DOB: 6/28/02 | HT: 6′ 1″ | WT: 200 | B/T: R/R
Scouting Report
Stumbo was a started for Nevada this year, with a 6.10 ERA in 59 innings of work. He struck out 53 and walked 32. His fastball has some arm side tail and a lot of downward action. The pitch moves a lot, and could be average or better. He can spin a curveball that backdoors lefties and gets inside on right-handers.
