Pittsburgh Pirates: MLB Pipeline’s First Mock Draft

The draft is about a one month away.  For the Pittsburgh Pirates, they will be making the tenth overall pick.  So who is projected to go to them?

There are two main websites that one should go to if they are searching for draft information, MLB Pipeline and Baseball America. Of course, Baseball America is subscription only, but MLB Pipeline is free to access.  With that being said, MLB Pipeline has put out their first official mock draft with about a month to go, with the draft taking place from June 4th-6th.  So who do the experts at MLB Pipeline predict the Pittsburgh Pirates to take?

The Buccos have the tenth overall pick in the upcoming draft.  This is the first time the Pittsburgh Pirates will be drafting in the top 10 since they received a compensation pick in 2013 and took Austin Meadows.  Last year, the Pittsburgh Pirates had another relatively high pick grabbing prep pitcher Shane Baz at number 12.  So, realistically, it does not seem likely that the Pittsburgh Pirates will be looking at prep pitching in the first round again. MLB Pipeline does not think so either.  Here is their prediction:

10. Pirates: Jarred Kelenic, OF, Waukesha (Wis.) West HSPicking No. 12 last year, the Pirates went the high school arm route with Shane Baz. They could do that again with someone like Cole Winn or Ethan Hankins. But they don’t shy away from high school bats, either (Austin Meadows, Reese McGuire, Cole Tucker were all first-round selections) and Kelenic is the best prep bat in the country, with solid all-round tools.

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MLB Pipeline has Kelenic actually ranked as the number overall eight player according to their top 100 draft prospect list. He hails from Wisconsin and is committed to the University of Louisville.  He is a left-handed hitter and a left-handed thrower, stands at 6’1” and weighs 190 pounds.  The Bucs have $4.56 million allocated for their first round pick.  Being Kelenic is a highly touted prep bat and has a college commitment to a big time program, Kelenic will likely take every bit of that bonus.