Jonathan Mayo at MLB Pipeline posted his latest mock draft on Friday and he has the Pittsburgh Pirates taking Vanderbilt outfielder Jeren Kendall with the 12th overall pick. Yesterday’s new mock draft from Baseball America had the Pirates taking UC Irvine’s Keston Hiura. They’re both college position players, but two very different players. Mayo has Hiura going 22nd overall in his mock draft.
We covered Kendall here last weekend, where I called him a first round possibility for the Pirates. He is a plus center fielder, with plus-plus speed and some raw power. He is a risky pick at 12th overall because of his strikeout issue. In 259 plate appearances this season, he has 65 strikeouts. That’s a high total for the college ranks and 18 more than any of his teammates.
Kendall is far from a safe bet, but he also seems to have a decent floor. His defense, speed and raw power should get him to the majors, even if he ends up as a bottom of the order bat, who occasionally runs into a homer, but doesn’t get on base enough to take full advantage of his speed. Of course you want more from the 12th overall pick, but plenty of first round picks are riskier selections, who never make the majors. You have the tools present to get him to the majors, but also the major problem area that might keep him from reaching his upside. If he didn’t have the strikeout issue though, he wouldn’t be available at the 12th spot. He would be gone in the first three picks.
If you’re going risk vs reward, he seems like a much better pick than Hiura, who doesn’t offer the position value or speed, but has a better overall bat. Hiura is going to miss time due to elbow surgery after he is drafted, so that’s also something to weigh. There is no guarantee that he will be the same hitter after a major surgery.
The first day of the draft is just 23 days away. The Pirates will select 12th, 42nd, 50th and 72nd overall that day.
