Pittsburgh Pirates 2017 MLB Draft: #72 Overall Pick

The 2017 MLB Draft is underway. The Pittsburgh Pirates had three second round picks including the very last pick at number 72. With the pick the, Pirates have selected Connor Uselton with their last pick of day one.

The Pittsburgh Pirates and Neal Huntington have added another solid outfield prospect.  Of course, as long as he decides to sign with the Pirates.  The Bucs had the number 72 overall pick in the 2017 MLB Draft. This was the last pick of the second round. This was one of their technically three second-round picks, one being at number 42, and the other at 50.  With the number 72 pick, the Bucs have selected Connor Uselton.  Uselton was the second prep outfielder taken by the Bucs, as they also draft Cal Mitchell with the number 50 overall pick.  The outfielder is from Southmoore High School in Oklahoma and is committed to Oklahoma State.

Uselton seems to have the higher upside of the two prep outfielders if you look at MLB Pipeline’s ranking. Baseball America has Uselton ranked as the 89th best prospect in the draft.  However, MLB Pipeline is much higher on him ranking him at number 46.  Here is MLB Pipelines’ scouting report on the prep outfielder:

"“Uselton’s bat speed, strength and leverage give him some of the best raw power in this year’s high school crop. His right-handed swing has some arm bar and got out of sync on the showcase circuit, but he has done a nice job of quieting and repeating his stroke as a senior. He’s doing a better job of using the entire field and scouts feel better about his chances of tapping into his considerable pop.”“A solid runner who covers ground with long strides, Uselton may lose a half-step as he fills out. That would prompt a move from center field to right, where his cannon arm would fit perfectly. He’s a 19-year-old high schooler, which some teams see as a red flag and would make him Draft-eligible after two years at Oklahoma State if he attends college.”"

All in all, the Pittsburgh Pirates needed to add some outfield prospects to the system.  Uselton is a 6’3” and 190 pounds.  MLB Pipeline projects him to have plus power, and with his frame is likely to add more power as he fills out.  He seems to be a prototypical corner outfield like bat.  With the Pittsburgh Pirates reaching a little bit on their number 42 pick and number 50 pick, the Bucs should have enough more to go over slot if need be to sign Uselton.  With that being said, this may not have to happen.  It does not seem likely that Uselton will be a tough sign.