The Pittsburgh Pirates swept the Chicago White Sox this weekend, entering the All-Star Break with a .500 record. The Pirates are now 48-48, one and a half games back in the Wild Card race, and 6.5 games back in the NL Central.
At some point in the next two weeks, the team will have to make a decision on whether to go for the playoffs. Before that point, they’ll watch their rookie phenom pitcher, Paul Skenes, start for the National League in the All-Star Game.
A five-hundred record, and a success story like Skenes should be examples one and two of why the Pirates should push some chips in on this season. Who knows how things will play out in 2025 and beyond? They know they are within striking distance of the playoffs right now, with a team that has only gotten better as the season has progressed.
The approach by the team at the trade deadline will be interesting to watch, as this is the first time this team has been in this position — on the verge of being a contender — during the rebuild under General Manager Ben Cherington.
For now, the focus is on the 2024 MLB Draft.
Pirates Take Three Prep Players on Day One
The MLB Draft began on Sunday night, and the Pirates went heavy in the prep ranks. They took prep players with all three of their day one picks, adding two position players and a pitcher.
The Pirates took Konnor Griffin with their first pick, landing one of the toolsiest players in the entire draft. Griffin has the chance to be a future 30-30 talent, with plus defense at either shortstop or center field.
They went a familiar route with the 37th overall pick, taking prep right-handed pitcher Levi Sterling. The strength of this system is pitching development, and Sterling has the profile to progress in this system.
With their second round pick, the Pirates went back to the position player ranks, getting prep shortstop Wyatt Sanford. One of the best defenders in the class, Sanford could be a starter in the majors if his bat develops enough.
The Pirates don’t have a great track record of developing position players. I wrote about that in my column recapping the day one picks, while highlighting what each player needs to develop to their upside. They shouldn’t shy away from position players, but something needs to change in their system to get better results from the latest additions.
Day Two
The 2024 MLB Draft resumes on Monday at 2:00 PM EST with rounds 3-10. I’ll have recaps for each pick shortly after the selections, along with a column at the end of the night.
Follow the Draft Pick Signing Tracker for a full list of who the Pirates have drafted, and for all of the signings after the draft.
Pirates Prospect Watch
Charles McAdoo was one of the best picks in the middle rounds of the 2023 draft. The 13th rounder out of San Jose State has been one of the best hitters in the system this year, already making it to Double-A. He hit his fourth homer at the level on Sunday. Read about McAdoo’s progress, and all of the other Sunday minor league action, in the latest Pirates Prospect Watch.
https://piratesprospects.com/2024/07/pirates-prospect-watch-charles-mcadoo-hits-his-fourth-homer-for-altoona.html
