Last week, we conducted a lengthy Roundtable to discuss the Pittsburgh Pirates’ number one overall pick in the upcoming MLB draft. We’ve already published the discussions about Dylan Crews and Paul Skenes. The lineup for this Roundtable discussion was as follows:
Tim Williams – Moderator
John Dreker – Site Draft Expert
Anthony Murphy – System Depth View
Wilbur Miller – System Needs View
Jeff Reed – Resident Fan Expert
The consensus for this draft is that there’s not a big gap in talent among the top five ranked players. Crews and Skenes are the consensus best prospects, but there’s not a big drop off in talent after them. Today, we talk about the other three players.
TIM WILLIAMS: John, I’m assuming the incentive to take anyone beyond Crews and Skenes would be to go with a 2021 style approach — saving money for the aggregate talent haul. Is this that type of draft, and which other first rounders could make that approach possible?
JOHN DREKER: The Pirates have been linked to high school outfielder Max Clark, who is part of the top five group this year. There’s also a chance to Wyatt Langford could be that pick. Both have been rated #1 overall at some point this year, and both had seasons that lived up to (possibly exceeded) expectations. If they are willing to sign for a savings that allowed the Pirates to pick up two more high profile over-slot signings, then I don’t see why doing it wouldn’t be an option.
The comparison wouldn’t be Crews vs Langford or Clark even up, which are close comparisons regardless of how you look at it, it would Crews vs Langford or Clark PLUS the ability to spend on two more high quality players. When numerous scouts say that any of the top five this year would be going first overall in an average year, you have the ability to maximize your draft class through wise spending. If you’re spending full slot on someone versus a seven-figure savings to put elsewhere, you better be sure that the full slot player is worth more than what you are potentially giving up.
In my opinion, the only wrong pick for the Pirates first overall this year is someone not named Crews, Skenes, Langford, Clark or Walker Jenkins. Once you get into other players, the gap in talent is large.
TIM:One thing that drives me crazy is talk about “the average draft year”. There is no such thing. There is the 2023 draft class. There is the Pittsburgh Pirates organization with the number one pick. There are both generational hitting and pitching talents. What we’re really saying with “the average draft year” is that this draft offers players who won’t make you regret passing on the generational guys for system depth.
Anthony, without getting into a decision, how is the depth right now in the system? Is it starved for potential impact guys like Crews and Skenes?
ANTHONY MURPHY: The depth feels a lot stronger on the pitching side as opposed to the hitting, but I don’t think — outside of Henry Davis who is at the major league level right now — that the system has the one signature elite front line prospect that is going to be a huge difference maker.
They may have a few guys who have a good amount of upside, but none to the level that Skenes or Crews would give them. So, while I don’t think they are starving for potential impact guys, they don’t have anything that is as close to a certainty that those two would provide.
TIM: Wilbur, as you noted, there’s a scale with going for savings. It seems if they don’t take the “generational guys”, they should go for maximum savings among the other “average year” first overall players. What does this organization need more? One impact prospect for 2024, or another 2021 style boost to the system?
WILBUR MILLER: The organization needs impact players, period. Right now, it’s not clear there’s a single one in the system. There are a few guys who have a chance of stepping forward, mainly Davis, Johnson, Jones and Chandler, but the evidence so far is that the Pirates are not good at development, especially not hitters. They’ve focused heavily on depth, which was the point behind drafting Davis, and here they are short on impact talent. They’re also woefully short on pitching depth, a deficiency that stands out dramatically when you go to FSL and FCL games regularly, or just check the Altoona and Greensboro box scores. It’s very hard to make an argument that focusing on depth over impact talent is working. What they need to do at the top of this draft is find an impact player. All other considerations should take a back seat.
TIM: Jeff, I was reading an article recently by Keith Law that pointed out the long-term impact from the shortened 2020 draft. Because that draft only had five rounds, the class is deeper this year. That seems obvious with the players we’re discussing at the top, but it also extends to the middle rounds, where the Pirates have picks 42, 67, 73, and 104. The Pirates have a lot of chances to add first round talents by not taking the best available from the top of a loaded draft class. You could easily argue their approach from 2021 has been better than taking the players ranked higher than Henry Davis on draft day. Marcelo Mayer and Jordan Lawlar are struggling to hit in Double-A, while Jack Leiter has serious control issues at the same level. Davis is hitting in the majors, and Anthony Solometo leads the group of prep players added with the savings — and he’s at the same level as Leiter now.
Based on recent scouting history, and the overall strength of this draft class, would the Pirates be justified in going for a similar signability approach this year?
JEFF REED: There has been a lot of discussion about how loaded the 2023 draft is by different publications. Way I see it is, the Pirates have almost $17M (breakdown by Ethan) to play with when factoring in the 5% overage, so they have the ability to get the best of both worlds.
Stepping back to the 2021 draft, Henry Davis signed for only $164K less than Marcelo Mayer. Braylon Bishop signed for $268,700, or $143,700 over the post-11th round $125K limit before counting against bonus pool. I liked the Davis pick at the time, and wouldn’t go back to change it. That being said, in theory, they could’ve taken Mayer with the only difference being they probably don’t sign Bishop. Anthony Solometo, Lonnie White Jr., Bubba Chandler, and even throwing in Owen Kellington signed for a collective $7.9M.
The number with the 5% overage is $16,994,985. The Pirates could draft Dylan Crews, hand him $9M; Draft three or four high end prep players and hand them $7.5M-$7.9M collectively; and then have plenty to draft a bunch of senior signs or signable juniors. I personally think the $5K and like signing bonuses are trash, but I’m speaking in terms or strategy.
Watching the MLB Combine, there are going to be a lot of REALLY gifted kids available. With the Pirates available bonus pool, I don’t think there’s really an argument for the big splash versus quantity of first round talents spread out. They should be able to get AT LEAST three “first round talents” just based off pool size alone. Even if they handed Crews $10M, as has been rumored.
Check back tomorrow morning at PiratesProspects.com for the fourth and final part, as we make our own mock picks with our strategies, two days ahead of the draft.
I like Skenes best right now. I’d be really happy with Crews. Willing to be convinced on Langford. Pissed if Clark. Irate if anyone else.
The pirate Greensboro team lacks talent. Other than Bowen, who I am not sold on; I doubt that any hitters from this team can be successful in AA.
The beauty and the detriment of this draft comes after the first 25 to 35 guys. The next group has very little separation and is incredibly deep. From 35 to 140 every player is pretty much in the eye of the beholder. None of the rankings have player ranked the same. (Couple of exceptions)
Before the season, Crews was the consensus #1 . He went out and improved in every category and won a national championship. Baseball America writers have said that Crews could be the number one prospect in all of baseball once he’s signed. He’s ready. You don’t pass up on generational talent. He’s a plus in all aspects.
The only argument against him is the supposed desire for higher than slot money. Well, he has very little leverage. Offer him the expected money. He will sign. We got a gift winning the lottery with Crews, don’t mess it up over thinking it. We don’t need more AAAA players, we need a stud. He’s it.
I disagree because Skenes and Langford are ALSO generational talents. The difference is not only the ability to sign 2-3 more prep players (potentially) but also the very real difference of KEEPING this player instead of trading them after their 2nd year of arbitration. Again, there is an absolute zero chance of Crews signing an extension ever, unless he firest Boras, which…….i don’t remember anyone ever actually doing. You want to build a core where we can have the best player in the game and maybe…..just maybe…….be able to sign him out of 2 years of free agency, well then there is no way you take Crews.
Strasburg did it. Also that really shouldn’t matter, whether a guys second stage of a career is here or not. It’s how you take lesser players.
I have gone back and forth between Skenes and Crews, but I am now leaning toward preferring Skenes. I think both have a good chance of coming close to their ceilings which are very high. Crews could be a top 10 outfielder offensively, but Skenes can be a top of the rotation pitcher. The Pirates do not have any pitchers in the Minors that looks like top of the rotation guys. We have a few that might get there, but no one that you look at and feel barring injury will likely get there. Skenes is that guy. His fastball could be one of the best in the MLB tomorrow, and his slider is +++. He has tremendous command of both. You never know what will happen once someone turns pro, sometimes there command just leaves them, but right now I feel Skenes fits in more with what we need. I will not be disappointed with Crews, or even Langford, but I would prefer Skenes. Anything other than those 3 would disappoint me though.
agree 100% assuming his arm and biomechanics are BEYOND squeaky clean
Totally fine with Skenes. I think Crews is demonstrably better than Langford. But Skenes or Crews would make me happy. We’re lucky to be at 1,1.
I don’t think we have allowed ourselves yet to fully experience the pure joy over the fact that the Pirates finished 2022 with same exact record as the Reds. We are picking first on Sunday, they are picking 7th.
I want to personally thank Derek Shelton for – on September 20th – bringing in a struggling Will Crowe to blow an 8-4 lead in the 9th inning against the Yankees: 0 innings pitched, 4 hits, 1 walk, 5 earned runs, walk off grand slam. Well played skip 🙏 🫡
Any other ‘22 memories we need to pause to give our thanks & praise to?
Exactly. The baseball gods gave us a gift. Don’t screw it up!
I think Pittsburgh City Council should designate Sunday as Josh Van Meter Appreciation Day
Anyone whom played 1st base last year should be given a commemative cake
screw it, take Jacob Wilson!!!! 2.4% k rate and born out of black and gold (I just learned he was in the draft last night during the game). We are family!!!!
Crews
Skenes
Langford (underslot)
IMO, if it’s anyone other than those 3, fire GMBC on the spot. You just can’t pass up on the chance to add a top 15 prospect in all of baseball.
We’ve already got ‘depth’ prospects & how many of those have actually broken out? A glut of 40+/45 prospects ends up as we’ve seen so far this year – a bunch of AAAA players and utility guys without much utility.
Big time this. BC’s “quantity over quality” approach to the whole rebuild has netted very few impact prospects/players. It’s time for a switch up. Take the best player in a draft where the term “generational” has been thrown around more often than bogus trade rumors. I don’t care if we need to go at or above slot to do it.
An add on…don’t overthink this..just draft Crews and hope he doesn’t throw a game and go to jail.
Confused, does he have a history of gambling or something that I dont know about?
“The Longest Yard”. Crews was name of the star in the movie
Ooh good reference that went completely over my head lol
Skenes is a pitcher who has had a high workload and TJS is always a concern. Crews is damn near Harper or maybe even better. Take Crews and nobody second guesses the pick. If you don’t take Crews and the pick fails it’s going to look very bad cause we are the Pirates not the Dodgers. Take Crews please gentlemen.
Bryce Harper was already a major league star at the same age that Dylan Crews was a freshman in college.
I’m not saying it’s like a moral flaw or whatever but what garbage do you people listen to for these absurd takes, I don’t get it…
In all fairness, if he wasn’t academically challenged and went to a real university for a couple years, he wouldn’t have been. Talent has nothing to do with whether or not a kid goes to school or not, once in a while
I don’t think Harper was academically challenged, just got his ged after his sophomore year of high school so he could enter the draft a year earlier. I could be wrong but that’s what I remember.
Are you always this smart or does it come and go?
Not really. Bryce Harper’s first 5 seasons was nothing to write home about, except for his MVP season in 2015 when he was 22, 1 year older than Crews is now. That includes the season following his 1st MVP season. Except for his MVP season in 2015, he really broke out in 2017. Before that, if you take out 2015, you could hardly call him a star.
Besides we already have a Harper and his name is Yordany De Los Santos.
I’m sure that’s not the English to Spanish translation, I checked……
I remember reading this in a doctors office hoping the Pirates would have a chance at him. Can’t say that happened ever before or since with anyone who was barely old enough to drive. I am sure you read the same article at some point. I do really remember wanting Crosby years before the draft. Guess one out of two ain’t bad.
https://vault.si.com/vault/2009/06/08/baseballs-lebron
I think you forgot that crews is a multigenerational talent that only wouldnt go 1.1 when the buccos follow their history of cheaping out at every corner, no exceptions!! /s
Any pitcher would have TJS concerns, and Crews ain’t nowhere near Harper.
You made my point for me on Skenes and Crews got Covid lost outta High School so the hype was tempered.
Huh?! My point is that TJS concerns would be an issue no matter who the top pitcher is, that’s always the narrative, and it has been the overwhelming narrative on this discussion board with absolutely no medical proof or documented concern, i.e., it’s just an lazy excuse for taking a position player over a pitcher. The medicals are either good or bad; you make the best decision possible with all the information available, no hypotheticals or guessing.
Good points by all, great article. This draft has me nervous & excited at the same time.
The top 5 aren’t equal.If there are two generational talents at teh top, and you have #1 , you have to take one of them. The system is stocked with potential “average” major leaugers. It could be a mistake not taking Skenes, but I’m taking Crews.
The Pirates need to use this #1 pick to get a difference maker who can contribute in Pittsburgh within the next couple of years. There are two of them at the top of the draft.
Skenes, if he can stay healthy, can contribute and make a difference once every five days. Crews can contribute and make a difference every day. To me that makes it a no-brainer.
The everyday versus once every five days thing is misleading. Crews and Skenes would do very well to match the performances that Freeman and Kershaw are putting up for LA this year. If you measure utilization by plate appearances for hitters and batters faced for pitchers, in 86 games Freeman has had 394 appearances and Kershaw has had 388 batters faced, no real difference.
This format is awesome. Great series fellas.
Agree- 2 thumbs up. Although if there is another one tomorrow we may have to not allow comments. I am 95% joking as that is part of the fun, but we are ‘Groundhog Daying’ a lot of these discussions/debates. I may have to ban myself as I am a major culprit.
I dunno, a lot of new takes and ideas being thrown today!
Truly joking and the guessing of picks in later rounds by some educated posters has been fun. Looking in a mirror I know I have some repeats!
I get very tired of reading that scouts say all of these top five prospects are equal or very close in talent and projected worth. What they say is that any one of the five is worthy of being the top pick in whatever a “normal” year is but the reason this is not a normal year is because the top guy (or maybe two guys) is/are far better than the other three.
Crews consistently has been and continues to be the overwhelming choice of scouts and evaluators based on talent and projected performance. The only reason some mocks have others going #1 is because they believe the Pirates will play the “give us a bunch of guys instead of the best guy” game.
Why does anyone believe either Skenes or Langford would take significantly less money than Crews will? Do you really want to pass on an everyday player who can be in Pittsburgh next year for a projectable 18 year old who, even if he develops into what Crews is now, won’t be in the majors for at least four years?
I also am extremely tired of hearing the “let’s save some money to spend it on more bargains later” argument. You do that of your shopping for bargains at Big Lots but not if you’re looking for a top of the line product in a quality store.
It has to come down to what are the Pirates looking for with the #1 pick. If, as I hope it will turn out to be, it’s a superior talent who can join with the group of prospects who are now entering the majors and begin making the Pirates better now, the choice has to be Crews.
Thats not true, because SOME scouts have had Langford or Clark also listed #1 , which means that at minimum, there are 4 guys which some people are #1 . This isn’t Ohtani versus the entire league in 2021, this is Ohtani vs. Judge in 2022. There’s not a wrong answer as far as “whom is the best talent” but that is NOT whats best important. How do the Pirates get the most value out of this pick, that is what we need to focus on. It is not a high school player because it doesn’t fit our window, and it isn’t Crews because he is absolutely not extendable even IF we sign him over slot. This leaves Skenes and Langford as the 2 most logical choices, with Langford being the choice if you can get him for 8.5M but Skenes if he wants near slot
Funny, I’m extremely tired of your opinions on the topic.
ctrl+c
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Love this 🤓
I prefer ctrl+a, delete
What’s the feel in the Burgh with the fans? Is the MLB draft any sort of conversation topic at the water cooler/bar/ect? I know certainly not like the NFL draft. I don’t live there anymore and it seems my pals there want Crews. I figure the Pirates public image is pretty crappy but I could see the casual fan reading an article after the draft bashing the pick. And that is what they will base their opinion on. Most aren’t following some freshly minted high school millionaire for 6 years to make an opinion. Just wasn’t sure how excited the city gets about a Pirates draft.
I see that Kylie McDaniel’s final ESPN rankings today have moved Langford up to number one.
At this point, any movement at the top is purely for clicks. Nearly everyone is putting someone other than Crews at #1 . I’m just going to drink until Sunday so I don’t remember any of it
The attention seeking Kylie McDaniel with another “look at me because I said something different” comment.
It’s better than saying the same thing over and over.
Still think 9.2 million is around the max I would go for pick 1 and that’s if you really like 1 player above the rest. If the pirates put all 3 at the same level go with the biggest savings.
I do like langford’s increased power potential over crews, though i do find crews’ swing to be much more fundamentally pleasing to the eye. I think langford’s hand placement and load bother me, though i certainly dont have the eye to know if that would ever become a problem or not
This from someone who has the eye, EL from Fangraphs;. Buff and twitchy, the short-levered Langford’s arms are nearly as thick as they are long. His compact swing allows it to enter the hitting zone very quickly, enabling him to stay short to the ball and crush letter-high pitches, which is how he does most of his extra-base damage. Langford is apt to swing over the top of secondary pitches in the bottom and outer third portions of the plate, perhaps because his levers are so short and he can’t reach out there, but his lower half is quite flexible and he should be able to dip and get to at least some of those pitches as he continues to play regularly. Even if this is a long-term issue that limits Langford’s contact somewhat, he has enough power to be a star anyway.
sounds like a taller, stronger Gonzales
Davis!
Langford seems like Davis on a lot of levels.
The swinging over the secondary pitches takes me to Nick, I don’t see Davis having as big of a problem with those pitches. Davis is currently rolling over those right now since he seems to be gear to pull the ball and I think Nick will eventually be better since he seems to have a up the middle approach.
I compared him to Davis previously, but the more I read , the more my mind goes to Nick…
Sounds like tank to me for sure
He’s so short to the ball, I don’t see it as a problem. I don’t like Schanuel’s stance or load either, but love the way he attacks the pitch. If not broke don’t fix it lol.
Pirates will try.
Yep, just typed basically that below just not as succinctly!!!!
I loved the way the Pirates ran their 2021 draft with Davis. This year I really think they need to go with a college player and who they think is the best player, even if Clark or Jenkins could yield big savings. My preferred order is Skenes, Crew, Langford.
I’m in this boat if we are all voting. I also think I agree with your preferred order but as we get closer I am getting this feeling that I continue to overlook Langford for some reason as almost a Crews equivalent. We have heard Crews name for 4 years from his Sr year in high school and admittedly he has delivered, but when the comparisons are done between the two it feels so much like a toss-up. So I am back to my posts from all these round tables.. does $ then become the deciding factor IF IN FACT they basically have a them even.
Langford did have more doubles, triples, HR’s and even stolen bases in 22 less games compared to Crews. Even without that, his forearms are basically my thighs, he just looks like a baseball killer.
I fully agree with Jeff’s conclusion, they can draft and pay Crews and still have money for other high end talent, but will continue to disagree with the assumption that Mayer would have signed for the same amount if taken #1 as he did at #4 leaving less money for maybe 1 or 2 overslot signings depending on how they chose to spend/draft. I think Mayer cost himself money when he slid to #4 . I think Chandler given the significant amount over his slot amount could have been the most likely casualty. Also, I consider Bishop just the late round guy they offered what was left on the table, not a key strategic pick.
Or Bish and Kellington would’ve been the casualty. Obviously will never know, but I can’t imagine it would’ve been that much more of a difference. I also kind of believe they had eyes on Tank more than just savings.
We’ll agree to disagree some although I fully agree they had sites on Tank beyond the savings and may have had him #1 on their own board. I do think if Mayer goes 1-1 Pirates they would have paid $1M at least.. obviously just my guess as we will never know. Kelilngton was just 30K over slot so not a stretch from a pool perspective but then of course they could have just taken another way under slot player and saved 350K +. I do hope they approach things similarly even if they don’t save much at 1-1. I’d rather sign a lot of way under slot players in rounds 1 – 10 to facilitate a few way over slot.
I also kind of hate the whole “savings” talk. It may change somewhat, but like with Bubba, it was likely $3M regardless of where he was taken. I generally believe they have an idea of what the bonus amount is likely to be when they make a pick, rather than make a pick and then negotiate around the slot amount.
Yes.. the savings is more of a math against the assigned pool but there are no actual savings. Ultimately it is about how you allocate your funds assuming most teams will spend most of their money. With Bubba you are correct, when he was still on the board (and at that point probably only one or two teams with the flexibility/pool as candidates), they had to decide if sinking $3M into one player vs. maybe several later was their preferred path.
Kind of sucks that hasn’t really panned out, but IIRC, Jack Herman and AJ Graham were like that. Took deals as prep kids that made you go, “That’s it?”
I think Corona was that player last year who they thought might bite at the remaining funds but did not. I think in all cases it is as you described, a player who may have lowered their ask when they didn’t go early, but still likely have to take less than even their adjusted ask. Here is what is left, we’d love to have you but this is all we got.
I was always curious about that. It seemed it came down to Corona or Bish, and Pirates went with Bish. Appeared originally Bishop had no intentions on signing, where Corona did. Which for how his season went, looks like it will end up paying huge dividends for Corona.
I think only area it may truly come into play is with a kid that maybe had too high of aspirations, a middle round type, and eventually has the “I just wanna play pro ball” mentality. Kind of like the whole Braylon Bishop saga.
We might have saved 500,000 of slot with Mayer, not 2 million as we did with Davis. Totally agree with ya.
I’m still all in on Skenes. Never seen anyone so ready. That being said, I’ve softened my position on Crews. I’ll be a little disappointed if they don’t pick Skenes. But Crews is a great player as well. And Langford could easily be a star too. But it’s gotta be one of the top two.
I still like Skenes the best as well, but Crews and Langford are right up there.
If the Pirates were to draft someone other than Crews or Skenes in order to load up on additional high-end talent, Wilbur will be able to hear the screaming about Nutting’s cheapness and how this is the second coming of the Daniel Moskos draft all the way down in Florida.
Not that that should influence their decision, just saying.
I’ll post the daily reminder that Nutting is absolutely cheap – BUT NOT IN THE DRAFT. Taking a Davis (under slot) was a strategic move not a financial move and as Wilbur documented above he feels strongly (I tend to agree) that they need to take the top end in this draft and then strategically plan AFTER committing to get one of the top end talents. It is not a $ spend decision, it is how they allocate those $ – RISK/REWARD.
You are of course correct, but such “facts” and “data” matter not to the The Narrative.
Fangraphs just dropped a mock, has us taking Crews but from how I read it Langford might be the pick
They had Schanuel going to the Cubs at 13 as well. I think his bat is close to Crews, and most mocks having him going in our division. I really don’t want him going in our division.
Jacob Berry….I was all over him in last year’s draft, and he was my Schanuel…..so far he is off to a horrible start to his pro career at a level that he should crush…
Me every time I watched Berry. I didn’t get it.
Turns out you were right!
I was so glad the pirates passed over him last year, didn’t think he could field, thought his bat would be better though.
Saw him as a 1b, I’m normally trying to find this team a 1b, I have like ten trade proposals at the trade simulator site for Kyle Manzardo…..
From what you’ve said about him, I sure as shit don’t want him in our division
I think different outlets have had him going to pretty much everyone in division except for the reds and us lol
Reds are going to take him at 7 now, in that band box he’s going to bat .330 with 35+ homers a year. He’s going to lead them to 5 World Series wins, taking in 3MVP’s and be a no doubt 1st ballot Hall of Famer. I kid I kid…
Pulling for strong jinx here!
If they draft anyone else besides Crews or Skenes I’m going to be upset. I understand there are 5 guys all worthy but almost every report has them as 1-2 in this draft. If we take a high school player it’s easy 3-4 years wait. We need to have an impact player in 1-2 years to help with what is on the MLB roster now. All we ever do is wait for prospects and it seems like finally we are getting them on the MBL roster and Crews or Skenes would be a great addition and will help very soon.
I agree with most of what you are saying but also don’t count Langford short. He could be a Mike Trout light.
That is true! If I had to pick one other then the LSU kids it would be Langford!
Skenes is my favorite, Crews was up until a few weeks ago. Langford can hit, not quite as good as Crews, but Crews doesn’t quite have the power potential as Langford.
Going to be an interesting Sunday Night. Can’t wait for Christmas in July.
This draft is so deep this year, the strategy I would take is go college players early, then use the savings to pick a few high school guys starting in round 11. Looking at impact potential star players for example
Pick 1 Skenes, Crews or Langford
Pick 42 Kemp Alderman
Pick 67 Caden Grice
Pick 73 Alonzo Tredwell
Pick 104 Connor Burns
Pick 140 Tre Morgan, Kevin Sim, Ethan O’Donnel, Jonah Cox, or Carlson Reed type of player, some of these players might be available at pick 167. There are a lot of senior and 5th year guys to fill in the 7 through 10 as well as player with loud tools. The pirates should be able to save on each of these type of picks. They could have 1.5 to 2 million if not more to go after 2 or 3 high schoolers round 11 up.
My 11th rounder completely slipped my mind. Max Martin. Brother of Mason Martin lol
Another member of the all name team to join LuJames Groover? Zion Rose. If baseball doesn’t work out, American Gladiators is gonna come calling with a name like that.
Here’s my go, which will be more broad and contingency. Such, pick 67 is dependent on which route 42 goes:
Pick 1: Crews, Langford, or Skenes
Pick 42: Sammy Stafura or Cameron Johnson. Kevin McGonigle if he’d drop.
Pick 67: Tai Peete, Drew Burress, Antonio Anderson, Nazzan Zanetello, or Cole Miller
*Disclaimer, also not against Cole Carrigg for 42 or 67
Pick 73 & Pick 104: Will Sanders or Sean Sullivan for arms, Tre Morgan, Kemp Alderman or Josh Rivera for bat
Pick 140: Kevin Sim, Alberto Rios, Zion Rose
After that, maybe a Burns. I hear he’s pretty good lol Devin Burkes from Kentucky is an interesting catcher. Klassen is interesting with his high end velo, and also another Minnesota product like JP Massey.
I like the players and areas you have them. I was going on the strategy I would use not what I think the pirates will do.
This is going to be an interesting draft that depends on when a run of high school kids start getting picked. I think it’s going to be heavy on college bats in the first 30 (12 to 16) or so picks with only a handful of college pitchers taken (5 to 8). As far as the high school kids it’s hard to tell.
That’s why I’d like to see them go prep with second and third picks. Feels like there’s a glut of really intriguing prep prospects for arms and bats. Some are bound to drop. Unless they want to see if any of them will drop their ask if they slide to fourth round.
I was really hoping for them to trade for a comp pick or two with how deep the draft is, extra cash and picks could’ve went a long way.
Seeking what it would take to pry Seattle’s PPI pick would’ve been fun
I’d be happy with pick 66 from the Royals, really wanted the Seattle pick though.
Scott Bandura (OF) out of Princeton looked intriguing too
If Mel is 100% correct on all of his predictions (and assuming he is not really Ben Cherington), we need to figure out how to get him another star.
I’ll be lucky if I they pick 1 or 2 of the guys I threw out there lol
If Pirates end up picking Burns, I’ll 100% be looking solely for your emphatic reaction lol
They just bumped him up to 120 over on ESPN. I will be very emphatic if they take him lol
I saw him play last year, he gives off the vibe he’s the best player on the field without being cocky. If he can hit 240/330/400 he has star potential. His defense is that good.
At worst seems like he could be hedges without the $5m deal
Hedges doesn’t have his heat seeking missle of a right arm. Reminds me of Pena.
Do we think morgan is going to hit? Seeing santana’s defense at first base has me liking the idea of a great defender there to handle cruz’s inevitable 95+ bullets into the ground
Hit? Yes. His discipline and bat control are remarkable. Power would be my biggest question.
I remembered he had bat questions, but i guess i just assume it was the usual 1B profile of plenty of power and not enough hit lol. Hes seems like a pretty well built dude, so could dream on growing into a bit more power I suppose. Not a bad flyer for 4 or 5 round
His approach has just always been mostly contact over power. I’d like to see if he could be geared for a little more power, which he started to hit for more come regionals, and lets ride!
I’ve dropped Morgan a little, love his defense and know he has some untapped power. He has a solid hit tool just weak contact, he’d be worth the risk around round 4 or 5.
Im not sure there is a wrong answer, thanks roundtable. Regardless of who we take I look forward to the pick having a bad week in our MiLB system and reading the posts that he is a failure, we cant develop, etc… Not sure why I get a kick out of that stuff🤷♂️, maybe because at times it is true😥… But it, hopefully, will be followed by a good stretch of performance and then posts by a few stating they are the “president of the fan club”, as we need a difference maker out of this slot, hope runs eternal🙏🙏
Love some roundtable action to start the day!