Pittsburgh Pirates: 2015 Draft Pick Review

Now that the the 2016 MLB Draft is wrapped up, let us take a look how the Pittsburgh Pirates 2015 picks are performing in their first full season.

At the time the Pittsburgh Pirates 2015 draft was considered one of the weaker one under Neal Huntington.  Many viewed top overall pick Kevin Newman as an average prospect, Kevin Kramer as a reach, and Jacob Taylor receiving Tommy-John surgery a month after signing.  However, some of the picks have proven to be much better than many predicted.  Let us take a look at the Pittsburgh Pirates top ten round draft picks last year:

First Round Pick, #19 overall: Kevin Newman, Shortstop

Many experts had Newman ranked as a top 30 talent in the draft.  One expert saw something different in Newman, Keith Law had him ranked as a top ten talent in the draft.  However, many fans were upset when drafting the shortstop at #19 overall.  Newman did not do himself any favors by hitting .226 in his first 38 games at Short-Season A ball.  However, he ended his 2015 campaign on a strong note batting .306 in 23 games at the Low-A level.

Newman entered this season as the starting shortstop for the Bradenton Marauders at the High-A level.  He really started to show why the Pirates invested a first round pick on him.  Through his first 41 games at the High-A level, Newman put up an incredible .366 batting average along with a .922 OPS.  This earned him a promotion Double-A Altoona, where is currently is playing.  So far he is hitting well for the Curve also posting an even .300 batting average.  Newman will likely spend the rest of the season at AA.  So far he has lived up to the first round pick that was invested on him.

Next: Hayes and Kramer

First Round Pick, #31 Overall: Ke’Bryan Hayes, Third-Baseman

The day of the draft, Hayes name was being considered as one of the fastest rising names on team’s draft boards.  Some of former big-league player and Pittsburgh Pirates Charlie Hayes, Ke’Bryan found himself being drafted at the back-end of the first round.  Many considered Hayes the highest upside pick the Pittsburgh Pirates made.  He showed why right away.

Ke’Bryan Hayes played his first 44 games at the Pittsburgh Pirates Gulf Coast League affiliate.  He hit .333 in those games while compiling a .809 OPS.  With this he got a crack at Short-Season A ball in Morgantown.  The New York Penn League typically consists of college level players, therefor it was a big step forward for the high school draft pick. In his short stint of 12 games at the NYPL he only batted .220.

This year Hayes opened up at the Pittsburgh Pirates Low-A affiliate the West Virginia Power.  He has spent all season there.  At the end of the first month the third-base prospect was hitting closer to .400.  Since he has come down to earth, but he still putting together a good season.  On the year he is batting .267 with a .724 OPS.  Still, he is holding up in first full major league season pretty well for being just 19 years of age.

Second Round Pick, Kevin Kramer, Second Baseman

Kramer was another pick that many fans did not like.  With higher upside names still left on the board, and many feeling the team reached on their first round pick Newman, fans did not want to hear that the Pirates drafted a second baseman who had average tools.  However, Kramer has shown much better than what people’s expectations for him were.

In 2015, Kramer did the exact opposite of Kevin Newman.  He also started in the New York Penn League affiliate at Short-Season A Morgantown and he batted a solid .305.  He then was promoted up to Low-A West Virginia for 12 games and only hit .240.

Like Newman, Kramer started the 2016 year at High-A Bradenton.  He has not put up the numbers Newman has at High-A, but he has put up a really strong season.  On the year Kramer is batting .281 with a .734 OPS.  The former UCLA Bruin is still at High-A, but will find himself at Double-A sooner rather than later.

Next: Hughston and Taylor

Third Round Pick, Casey Hughston, Outfielder

Hughston seemed like the the best power potential bat the Pittsburgh Pirates drafted.  He was one of the younger players in the draft, being a sophomore eligible draftee.  He played at Alabama and hit in the middle of their lineup.

Hughston played 61 games in 2015 at Short-Season Morgantown (NYPL).  He was abysmal.  n those 61 games he batted .224 with an OPS of .577.  Many hoped that the third round pick was just having trouble adjusting to wooden bats and that in 2016 he would start to show why the Bucs used a third round selection on him.

Well, 2016 has been even worse.  He has played 45 games at Low-A West Virginia.  He is only batting .194 with an OPS of .656.  At one point the Pittsburgh Pirates sent him down to Pirate City to try and work with him outside of minor league play.  This has not shown any benefit yet.

Fourth Round Pick, Jacob Taylor, Right-Handed Pitcher

Taylor was a high, upside, power arm out of Pearl River CC in Mississippi.  Many viewed Taylor as a potential future closer for the Pittsburgh Pirates.  His fastball sits 93-95 miles per hour and can reach as high as 97 miles per hour.  The questions around him is whether or not he would be able to command his pitches.

Taylor started his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates at their Gulf Coast League affiliate.  In his frist game he threw one innings, struck out two batters and talked three, but he did not give up any runs.  After that game, it was announced that Taylor would need Tommy-John surgery.  So with that, Taylor has only thrown one innings between 2015 and so far in 2016.

Next: Waddell and Brubaker

Fifth Round Pick, Brandon Waddell, Left-Handed Pitcher

The winnings pitcher of the 2015 College World Series, found himself being one of the last Pittsburgh Pirates draftees to sign in 2015. However, that was because he was pitching in the NCAA playoffs.  He joined the Short-Season team in Morgantown (NYPL) and started six games. In those six games he threw 20.1 innings and had an ERA on 5.75.  Many  connected Waddell’s struggles to the fact that he had not been used to pitching that deep into the summer.

In 2016 Waddell showed great improvements.  He started at High-A Bradenton and pitched outstandingly.  In his five starts at the High-A level, he went 4-0 with a 0.93 ERA in 29 innings pitched. He also struck out 26 batters while only walking two. The Pittsburgh Pirates organization did not wait around and moved him right up to Double-A Altoona.  Waddell has been a little more challenged in Altoona.  He has made ten starts there and has had mixed results.  On the year at AA he owns a 4.88 ERA.  One issue Waddell has been battling at AA is that he is walking more batters.  The hitters are more disciplined at the AA level and because of this Waddell is not getting as many swings and misses on pitched out of the zone.  In the 51.2 innings he has thrown he has struck out 38 while walking 23.  Over his last few starts he has done better, and seems to be adjusting to AA level.

Sixth Round Pick, JT Brubaker, Right-Handed Pitcher

JT Brubaker was the Pittsburgh Pirates sixth round pick and was a head scratcher for some.  This was because he pitched in a non-power five conference and he was not supposed to be drafted until day three of the draft (11-40 rounds).

One thing that led to the Pittsburgh Pirates drafting Brubaker in the 6th round was that he would be a quick and easy sign.  With that Brubaker made 15 starts for Short-Season Morgantown (NYPL).  In those 15 starts Brubaker compiled a six and four record with a 2.82 ERA.

He picked right up in 2016.  He started this year at Low-A West Virginia and was very good.  He started 12 games and went four and five in those  starts.  In his 62 innings he struck out 77 hitters while only walking 24.  With that the Pirates moved him up to High-A Bradenton.  Like Waddell, Brubaker has struggled some with the move up.  He has made three starts for far and has no wins and two losses on his record.  In those start he has thrown 15.1 innings he has a 6.46 ERA.  The good news is that it is a very small sample size and will most likely make adjustments and improve.

Next: Tolman and McGarry

Seventh Round Pick, Mitchell Tolman, Third Baseman

Tolman was an interesting pick out of Oregon.  The Pirates system has been weak at the third base position, but they decided to not only add Hayes in he first round, but a college bat in Tolman also.  He was expected to be a quick and easy sign and he was.

Tolman got to play in 63 games for Short-Season Morgantown (NYPL).  He played very well batting .304 with a 817 OPS.  He has not missed a beat in the 2016 season either.  He is now playing at Low-A West Virginia and is batting .283 on the season with a .799 OPS in 62 games.  Tolman may find himself at Low-A for the rest of the year however, as Ke’Bryan Hayes is likely ahead of him on the prospect depth chart.

Eighth Round Pick, Seth McGarry, Florida Atlantic University

If Jacob Taylor is considered to be a future closer for the Pittsburgh Pirates then McGarry will be the future setup guy.  McGarry is undersize in terms for a right-handed pitcher standing at only 6’0”, but his mid 90’s fastball makes up for it.  McGarry started in 12 games between the Gulf Coast League and Short-Season Morgantown (NYPL) in 2015.  He threw 51 innings and owned a 3.88 ERA.

For 2016, the Pittsburgh Pirates organization decided to start using McGarry out of the bullpen.  This was expected as many scouts believed he would be better suited for the bullpen. McGarry finds himself at Low-A West Virginia.  He has thrown in 37 innings so far.  His ERA is at 3.41 so far and he has struck out exactly one batter per inning at 37.  McGarry likely will be moved up to High-A by the end of the season.

Next: Helton and Sendelbach

Top Three Picks performing as they should.  Every year you expect the first round and second round picks to be the best prospects.  Newman, Hayes, and Kramer have been the best players from this draft class. All three have hit well all year at their levels.

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Ke’Bryan Hayes the highest upside and is showing it in his first full season.  Hayes is performing at Low-A very well for his age.  Hayes is one of the youngest players at the level and is holding his own.  He is showing some good pop, good discipline, and playing third base well.  He is the future third-baseman, and a will be a future of the middle of the lineup bat.

Newman could find himself in the MLB as soon as next year. Newman is hitting well at the Double-A level.  If he continues to hit around .300 for the Curve he will likely start the 2017 season at Triple-A Indianapolis.  This is because he would have played over a half a season at AA, and he would have received the amount at-bats the Pirates like their players to get while performing.  If he is at AAA next year then he will likely get a shot toward the end of 2017 to play at the big league level.

McGarry looks to be a future piece of the bullpen and Taylor could be once he gets back from injury.  Both are hard throwers, McGarry is performing well and will only get better as he learns to develop and command his secondary pitches.

Could have found some starting pitching depth in Waddell and Brubaker who look to be back end of the rotation and Helton and Sendelbach as depth pieces or long relief.  Waddell and Brubaker could make nice pitchers to have battling for the 4th and 5th spot of the rotation down the road.  Helton and Sendelbach seem to be more of the Triple-A starters who could come up and make spot starts when needed.

Hughston setting himself up to be out of the organization soon.  Hughston has bee straight bad.  If he does not turn it around this season the Pirates could look to cut ties with him.  He has shown nothing worth keeping him around for.

Related Story: How to use Nick Kingham in 2016

All around the draft class seems to be performing well.  It will be good to get Taylor throwing and back in the system again.  Most of these guys should receive promotions by the end of the year.

Stats provided by Baseball Reference.

Stats used based on 7/2/2016