Pittsburgh Pirates: Projecting the Team’s First Four Picks

The Pittsburgh Pirates need to do a good job of drafting this year.  Having four picks on the first day of the draft is a lot, and the team has a real opportunity to add some premium talent. However, as the team has done in the past, they may look to try to save money at the front of the draft to sign some of the top prospects who slide in the later rounds.

Still, this group of players would be a good haul for the Pittsburgh Pirates.  Priester represents the high upside arm that could be a future ace.  McConnell is a projectable power bat that will play middle infield.  With the team seeing both Cole Tucker and Kevin Newman up on the MLB club, he would become the team’s second-best shortstop prospect immediately after Oneil Cruz.

Thompson would be a prototypical Pittsburgh Pirates pick.  A tall, projectable righty with a power arm. He still needs time to fill out, but the Pirates have always shown patience with those types of pitchers.  Lastly, Stowers would give the team a projectable outfield power bat that would fit really well at PNC Park.

Once again, tomorrow night is the MLB Draft.  It will begin at 7:00 PM est time and will be shown on MLB Network.  The Bucs have the 18th overall pick and likely will be on the clock around 8:30-9:00.  Be sure to check back throughout the night to see our thoughts on all the players picked.