The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed LHP Josh Hartle, their third round pick from the 2024 MLB Draft. Hartle, drafted as a junior out of Wake Forest, signed for $850,000, which was $70,800 below slot value for the pick. He was rated the 75th best prospect by Baseball America, and the 70th best by MLB Pipeline.
Three years ago, Hartle removed his name from the draft to attend Wake Forest, despite being a top two round talent out of high school. He saw his value take a dip during his junior year.
Hartle had a down year in 2024, with a 5.79 ERA in 74.2 innings, getting hit around more than any point in his career. There are a few theories as to why he saw a decline from his sophomore season, where he had a 2.81 ERA in 102.1 innings. The most common theory is that he put too much emphasis on his cutter, which impacted his fastball.
Averaging 90 MPH and topping out at 94 from the left side, Hartle has a below-average fastball with above-average command and control. He also has a projectable 6′ 5″, 210 pound frame, giving the chance to tap into his size for added velocity in the future. His best pitch is a slider, which is above-average, ranging in shape from a sweeper to a slurve.
The cutter is an average pitch, but the extreme usage of that offering this year led to a decline in his stuff, including a step back in control and command. He could have plus control and command from an average fastball, paired with an above-average slider, and two average offerings in the changeup and curveball.
The Pirates will look to get Hartle back on track, likely adjusting his pitch usage to maximize the control and command aspect of his game. He’s got the chance to be a future MLB starter, with the chance for plus control of four average or better pitches. I wrote about Hartle over the weekend as one of the sleepers of the draft, due to his chances to get back on track with starter upside.
The Draft Pick Signing Tracker has been updated with the signing and bonus information.
