Pittsburgh Pirates Draft Player Preview: Zac Veen

Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington is looking to add a college bat at pick number seven, but if an exciting high-school outfielder with high potential falls the team could look that direction with the pick

The Pittsburgh Pirates will be selecting 7th overall in the 2020 MLB Draft on Wednesday night, which puts the team in a very good spot to add a very good prospect to the system. While it has been widely reported that new general manager Ben Cherington could be targeting college bats early, the team could settle for a rising high school prospect with a very high ceiling high if available when the team is on the clock.

Standing at a whopping 6-foot-4 and weighing 195 pounds, Zac Veen has an ideal frame for what he will look to become in the majors. The 18-year old will look to add weight in the future which will come with time and only add to an already promising power bat in his arsenal. With Cherington reportedly looking to add a bat with his first selection, I could definitely see Veen as a real possibility for the Pittsburgh Pirates simply because of the elite offensive ability he possesses.

Even with his pretty good athleticism and solid arm, Veen projects as an average defender and for that reason most experts see him as an everyday corner outfielder at the Major League level. However, what he lacks defensively he makes up for at the plate.

The most exciting aspect of Veen’s game is that the left-handed prospect is not just a power guy but he’s also not just a contact guy, Veen mixes both while at the plate and he does it very well. Adding Veen would give the Pirates another outfield prospect with a high-ceiling, adding to the prospect group that already consists of Jared Oliva, Travis Swaggerty, and Sammy Siani. Two of these prospects could look very nice roaming the PNC Park outfield alongside Bryan Reynolds in a few years.

Still projected as a top ten pick, Veen could and should very well be off the board by the time the Pirates are on the clock, however if he is not, there’s little doubt in my mind he has a very good chance of being the selection at seven for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Adding Veen would be a very good high upside selection, with a high-floor.