The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed fourth round pick Eddie Rynders, locking up one of their four prep players taken in the first five picks. He was rated 350th in the 2024 MLB Draft by Baseball America, and 229th by MLB Pipeline. Rynders signed for $649,700, which is the slot value for the 112th overall pick.
Rynders was drafted as a shortstop, but profiles long-term as a power hitting third baseman. At 6′ 2″, 195 pounds, he’s got plus raw power from the left side, with a slight uphill swing that stays consistently through the zone. He’s got an above-average arm which could develop into a plus tool, keeping him on the left side of the infield.
The 2024 season saw Rynders improve his run tool to average, but that could decline as he fills out. This would push him off shortstop to third base. The Pirates drafted two other prep shortstops before Rynders, with both having better long-term outlooks at the position. That could also impact his future position.
Rynders is graded fringe-average for the hit tool, with questions about his bat speed and the length of his swing. He does have the ability to hit to all fields, and the Pirates will be tasked with developing the hit tool while maximizing the plus raw power.
The Pirates have now signed seven of their draft picks, all of them being in the top ten rounds. The Draft Pick Signing Tracker has been updated with the move.
