The MLB Draft starts this weekend, with the Pittsburgh Pirates picking ninth overall on Sunday.
This year’s draft will give the Pirates a good opportunity to land a future above-average Major League player. I previewed the draft from the Pirates’ perspective yesterday, noting that they have an opportunity to fill their first base position.
Williams: The Pirates Could Solve First Base in This Year’s MLB Draft
Baseball America released their latest mock draft yesterday, projecting prep hitter Konnor Griffin to the Pirates. They also had first baseman Nick Kurtz on the board, who could give the Pirates more immediate help at a position of need throughout the system.
Griffin would give the Pirates the highest upside, as a prep player who could eventually develop into a 60-grade future value.
I would go with Kurtz, due to less need for development to get him to his upside. Griffin wouldn’t be a bad choice, due to having more upside that has to be developed. This would require better development from the Pirates than they’ve shown so far.
The Pirates can’t really go wrong, with more than nine players at the top of this draft who have a 55 FV or higher.
Pirates Beat the White Sox
The Pirates beat the White Sox 4-1 on Friday night.
Marco Gonzales pitched five innings in his return to the majors, allowing one run, no walks, and striking out four. The return of Gonzales helps the Pirates to get back to a full rotation, following some injuries this month.
Carmen Mlodzinski threw two perfect innings with two strikeouts. Colin Holderman pitched a scoreless eighth. David Bednar returned off the injured list to get the save.
The offense for the Pirates came in the fifth and sixth innings. Jared Triolo singled in the tying run in the fifth, followed by a sacrifice fly by Michael A. Taylor. Nick Gonzales added a run in the sixth inning on his 12th double of the year. He scored on a Ke’Bryan Hayes single, making the score 4-1.
The Pirates are now 46-48, and could enter the All-Star break at .500 if they win the next two days against the White Sox.
MLB Future’s Game
The MLB Future’s Game takes place today at 4:10 PM EST.
The Pirates will be sending their top two prospects to the game, with RHP Bubba Chandler expected to pitch, and infielder Termarr Johnson looking to make an impact at the plate.
Chandler has a 3.53 ERA in 63.2 innings in Altoona this year, with a 77:22 K/BB. Chandler has reached a new level since May 29th, with a 2.08 ERA in 39 innings, and a 47:4 K/BB. He pitched two perfect innings earlier this week, prior to his likely inning of work in Saturday’s game.
Johnson is batting .244/.394/.394 with nine homers and 14 stolen bases in Greensboro. He’s also reached a new level since May, hitting .294/.408/.500 with eight of his homers since May 18th. Johnson is carrying an active 12-game hitting streak into the All-Star break.
Paul Skenes Named the Starter in the All-Star Game
The impressive rookie season for Paul Skenes features another milestone. On Friday, Skenes was named the starter for the National League in the All-Star Game.
The quick rise from Skenes, going from being drafted first overall last year, to starting the All-Star Game in his first season, is unlike anything that has been done in baseball history. Skenes has been one of the best pitchers in the game since his arrival, with a 1.90 ERA in 66.1 innings, along with 89 strikeouts and 13 walks.
With Skenes starting, the young ace for the Pirates will be on display as one of the biggest features of a star-studded game. He’ll go up against his best 1-2-3 lineup of his career, putting his stuff to the biggest test yet.
Skenes will be joined by Bryan Reynolds as the representatives for the Pirates.
Pirates Prospect Watch
Axiel Plaz hit his 12th homer of the year for Bradenton on Friday night. He led a three-homer night, and currently has the team lead in homers in his age-18 season. Read more about the power display in Bradenton, as well as all of Friday’s action, in the latest Pirates Prospect Watch.
Pirates Prospect Watch: Axiel Plaz Leads a Power Display in Bradenton
