MLB Draft: 2016 Top High School Prep Arms

To conclude, if the Pirates want to break their seemingly standard tradition of not picking a high school arm in the first round – outside Jameson Taillon – this year’s class may be the year. There are intriguing arms that should be around when the Pirates pick. There’s only two pitchers who won’t be there in Jason Groome and Riley Pint, and Ian Anderson, Braxton Garrett, and Forest Whitley could be gone, and if not those three will be gone before the team picks again at number 41.

There are some value pitchers in Kevin Gowdy, Jared Horn, and Alex Speas who could be below value slot draftees, which can set the Pirates to go over slot with high school kids in later rounds like they have shown the tendency to do. Overall I think Forest Whitley could be the best option of high school arms for the Pirates, as he is a big right handed pitcher who throws smoke, the typical Pirates high school kid draftee.

My top eight high school arms go in the order of Jason Groome, Riley Pint, Forest Whitley, Ian Anderson, Kevin Gowdy, Braxton Garett, Alex Speas, and Jared Horn.

Next up will be a feature preview on the top eight catchers and first baseman among high schoolers.

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