Pittsburgh Pirates Draft: A Look at Potential Picks at Number 32

The Pittsburgh Pirates have one of the top picks in the Competitive Balance Round with the 32nd overall pick.  Who could they potentially draft at that spot?

Two days ago it was announced what pick in the Competitive Balance Round the Pittsburgh Pirates would have for the 2020 Draft.  Every year, the 14 teams with the lowest winning percentage, market score and revenue earnings are awarded an extra draft pick to help with “competitive balance” in the league, at leas it’s supposed too.

This year the Pittsburgh Pirates were awarded one of the highest Competitive Balance picks they have received at 32nd overall.  They actually have the second pick in the Competitive Balance A round with just the Baltimore Orioles picking in front of them.  This should give Ben Cherington and company a chance to have a strong first draft class.

Who could be available to the Bucs at number 32 overall next year?  While it is a little early to be talking about the draft in June, many of the draft expert sites have already started to release their big boards of prospects and even some early top 10 mocks.  Draft information is more readily available now than ever before making it easier to start looking at potential prospects.

There are plenty of intriguing prospects that will be available 32 picks into the draft.  This year’s class seems to be very deep, especially at the college level.  The staff at MLB Pipeline just recently released their Top 100 Prospects for the 2020 draft and it looks as if there will be plenty of college players available to them.

There are a handful of college pitchers that could be available around pick number 32.  There are three power right-handed pitchers and one that is left-handed. The lone lefty that is ranked around number 32 is Jake Eder from Vanderbilt.  He has a fastball that sits in the mid-90s with a deceptive delivery.  The Bucs lack any quality lefty prospects so he should be on the radar.   If the Bucs want to find a high upside projectable right-handed pitcher then Oklahoma pitcher Cade Cavalli could be it.  The Sooner stands at 6’4” and is already relatively filled out weighing 220 pounds.  Cavalli is a power righty who throws in the upper 90s with a plus curveball and slider.

The second highest-ranked one is Auburn pitcher Tanner Burns.  Burns ranks at number 29 and has a fastball that can reach as high as 97, although he stands at just 6’0” which could limit his upside.  Slade Cecconi is ranked 35th overall and is one of the younger draft-eligible college pitchers, as he does not turn 21 until toward the end of June.   His fastball sits in the mid-90s and he has a power slider to go along with a curveball and changeup.  The 6’4” Miami Hurricane has a lot of upside and could move up the boards by June.

In terms of hitters, there are not as many ranked as there are pitchers.  Still, there are three candidates ranked in the low 30s that could make sense for the Pittsburgh Pirates.  Ranked at number 32 is North Carolina Tarheel’s first baseman Aaron Sabato.  Like Cecconi, Sabato is one of the younger college hitters, not turning 21 until the first week of June.  He has 60-grade power but is limited to just first base.  Furthermore, he is a right-right first baseman, which typically lasts longer in the draft.

The most intriguing college hitting prospect that could be available is LSU outfielder Daniel Cabrera.  Cabrera was ranked as a top 200 prospect entering the 2017 draft but had a hard commitment to LSU.  He now ranks as the 34th best prospect and could be on the Pittsburgh Pirates radar.  He is a left-handed hitting outfielder who projects to hit for average and power while being limited to the corners.  Also, Cabrera has an athletic build standing at 6’1” and weighing 200 pounds and is a slightly above-average runner.

The last prospect of note is Arizona State’s third baseman Gage Workman.  He ranks at number 32 exactly on the list.  He is a projectable power hitter standing at 6’4”, however he has room to fill in to, weighing only 200 pounds. He has played some middle infield in his career and has the ability to do so, but projects at third base due to his size.  The belief is that Workman projects to be an above-average fielder at the hot corner.

All these prospects are interesting college players who likely will boost or hurt their draft ranking before the draft happens in June.  Spring baseball is right around the corner for college teams which means the draft class will start to really take shape.  Still, with a young core, the Bucs should look to the college ranks and find someone to help sooner than later.  The team used their top two picks last year on prep talent and with so much college talent it may be the direction they go in.