Pittsburgh Pirates MLB Draft: Pick Number 105

The MLB Draft has continued today with rounds 3-10. The Pittsburgh Pirates are picking at number number 105 in the third and number 29 in rounds 4-10.

With the 105th  overall pick and their second round pick, the Pittsburgh Pirates and Neal Huntington selected Stephen Alemais from Tulane.  Baseball America ranks Alemais at number 120 and number four in the state of Louisiana. MLB Pipeline ranks Alemais at number 114.

Stephen Alemais is a defensive minded shortstop. He is career .293/.349/.376 in college with only three home runs and 31 doubles. His 48 walks to 74 strikeouts, a ratio of 0.65 is a pretty good rate. Alemais also has stolen 57 bags in 73 attempts, which is a great rate of 78 percent. He stands at 6’0″ and 190 pounds, and with this frame, quick feet, and solid hands, Alemais should remain at shortstop.

Unlike Lodolo and MacGregor, Alemais is a pick who makes since at number 105 as two different prospect sites rank him around the range. As a 21-year-old junior, Alemais has the leverage and there for will likely take the full $568,400 slot value of the pick, or a tad less. It’s an interesting pick as the Pirates have now taken a short stop in the first three rounds for three straight years with Cole Tucker and Kevin Newman – both first round picks – in the 2014 and 2015 respectively. He has the glove to remain at shortstop, and that glove may be his calling card. MLB Pipeline and Baseball America notes that there are concerns his light bat won’t carry over to wood. A player comparison could be that of Wilmer Flores. A light hitter who can play all over the field with their athleticism and great fielding ability. If he does not hit, he will likely become a utility player, and if he does hit, a bottom of the order bat who is out there for his glove is in his future.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates and Neal Huntington selection is the first not reach, when looking at Baseball America and MLB Pipeline’s rankings. Alemais will likely take the whole slot value, but the money saved from the earlier three picks to use later. Rounds four and five are coming up and the Pirates in earlier years have drafted top pitching prospects Nick Kingham and Tyler Glasnow in the fourth and fifthround of their respective draft.  There is still plenty of talent left on the board on day two, and some players that have fallen into round four that are still very good are on the board.