Pittsburgh Pirates 2017 Draft: Starting Pitcher Alex Faedo

Recently at Rum Bunter, we have started to break down potential draft picks for the Pittsburgh Pirates.  The draft is coming up on Monday, June 12th.  So far we have looked at a pitcher, an outfielder, and a shortstop.

With the MLB Draft being less than two weeks away, the Pittsburgh Pirates are in a prime spot to add an elite prospect to their system.  The Pittsburgh Pirates are drafting at number 12 overall.  So far here at Rum Bunter, we have looked at pitching prospect Griffin Canning from UCLA, outfielder Adam Haseley from the University of Virginia, and shortstop Logan Warmoth from the University of North Carolina.  MLB Pipeline has all three of those players ranked below the Pittsburgh Pirates spot at 12, so any of the three prospects could be realistic.  However, there is also the chance that a player ranked to go in the top 10 could slip to them at 12.

Alex Faedo, the Florida Gators pitcher, has the size the Pittsburgh Pirates like in a pitcher.  He is listed at 6’5” and 225 pounds.  He also has three plus pitches in a sinking fastball, a plus slider, and a changeup that he seems to have a good handle on.  Here is what MLB Pipeline has to say on Faedo:

"“Faedo started the spring closer to the bottom end of his 90-94 mph fastball, but as he got his feet under him, he was sitting 93 mph and touching 95 more consistently with good sink. His slider has continued to look like an out pitch, though some feel he’s been throwing it too much. Faedo threw his changeup more over the summer, showing a good feel for it, and it should give him a solid third offering in the future. He tends to be around the zone, though he’s more control over command.”"

Alex Faedo could be a player that is still available to the Pittsburgh Pirates when it is their time to draft.  Faedo is ranked as the 11th best prospect according to MLB Pipeline.  Most mock drafts have him going anywhere from number five to number nine overall.  This may be because he is a college pitcher, so he likely could move up the system faster.  Also, in general, he is the University of Florida’s ace this year, something that speaks volumes as they are one of the best teams in the country.

The only pitchers from the college ranks that are ahead of Faedo are Brendan McKay, Kyle Wright, and J.B. Bukauskas.  McKay will be a top 5 pick and could go as a hitter or a pitcher, but regardless he will be ahead of Faedo.  So, depending on team’s draft philosophies, Faedo very well could be available to the Bucs.  Just like a few years ago when Austin Meadows was not supposed to be available at number nine for the Bucs, but he was.  Some teams like a certain player better than others, while others prefer to take prep arms instead of college arms.

Final Thoughts on Faedo

Faedo also had knee surgery this past summer.  According to MLB Pipeline, he is starting to look his former self, but some teams may look elsewhere and not take a pitcher who might have a knee issue down the road.  Although, I am sure most teams will have done their homework on his medical. In general, he has not been as dominant this year as he was last year.  Obviously, there are various factors that could lead to Faedo still being on the board at number 12. Which even with these factors, he still is considered the third best college arm in the draft for a reason.  He seems to fit the mold that the Pittsburgh Pirates look for in pitchers.  He would be an elite arm to add to a minor league system that has graduated a lot of their top pitching prospects in recent years.