Pittsburgh Pirates: Three Potential Second Round Picks

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BRADENTON, FLORIDA – MARCH 23: Manager Derek Shelton #17 of the Pittsburgh Pirates looks on prior to the game between the Minnesota Twins and the Pittsburgh Pirates during a spring training game at LECOM Park on March 23, 2021 in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) /

The Pittsburgh Pirates have the first overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, but their second round selection could see one of these three players being selected

Last year the Pittsburgh Pirates finished with a 19-41 record. They had the worst record in all of baseball and were the only team to finish with less than 20 wins. However, this means they got the first overall selection in 2021’s MLB Draft.

By this point, we already know who the Pittsburgh Pirates are likely going to select with the first overall pick. It’s going to likely be Vanderbilt ace Jack Leiter with Vandy’s other ace Kumar Rocker in consideration. Both Rocker and Leiter have been covered here plenty of times.

However, what might be more interesting is who the Bucs pick with their second round selection. This will be the 37th overall pick in the draft. So today, let’s take a look at three prospects who the Pirates could take with that second round pick.

Robby Martin

Robby Martin is an outfielder from Florida State University. A right fielder by trade, Martin has gotten off to a solid start to his 2021 season. Through his first 136 trips to the plate Martin is batting .330/.419/.539 with 6 doubles and 6home runs, all coming to a .378 wOBA.

Martin has shown some pretty solid plate discipline as well. In 2021, he’s drawn a walk at a 12.9% rate and has a career 13.2% walk rate. However, this has come at the cost of a 27.2% strikeout rate so far this season. However, overall, he has a lower 23.8% strikeout rate.

Martin has hit for more power in 2021 than he has in previous seasons. His .215 isolated slugging percentage is a career best mark. He has the potential for even more power as his 6’3″, 200 pound frame at 21-years-old suggests he can be a big power threat in the Majors and soon.

This power potential is something that FanGraphs agrees with as he has a 55-future game power and 60-future raw power grade. While FanGraphs sees his hit tool as a 40-grade tool, MLB Pipeline has him at 50. Notably, MLB Pipeline gives him a 50-grade for all of his tools, aside from his arm, which is seen as a 55-grade tool.

While Martin isn’t considered a Kevin Kiermaier, he’s considered an average fielder in the corners with a strong arm. He isn’t a speed demon either, but can move it when he needs to. All told, Martin would provide the Pittsburgh Pirates with another bat with big power potential.

Christian MacLeod

The Pittsburgh Pirates second pick could be another pitcher. This time being MIssissippi State left-hander Christian MacLeod. The southpaw has been outstanding in Starkville. The past two seasons MacLeod has posted a 2.17 ERA, 2.74 RA9, 1.40 HR/9 and he’s allowed just 43 hits in 62.1 innings pitched.

MacLeod has been great at getting strikeouts and limiting free passes. To go with his outstanding 40.6% strikeout rate, the lefty has only walked 7.9% of all the batters he has faced. His only weakness so far has been the long ball. So far in 2021, he’s surrendered 10 home runs in just 41.1 innings. That comes out to a dreadful 2.20 HR/9 rate. However, his 2020 season was a polar opposite in terms of home runs. He didn’t allow a single long ball in 21 innings pitched.

MacLeod isn’t a hard thrower by any means. He only averages out in the 89-91 MPH range with his fastball, but it’s still considered a pitch with average or better potential. What he lacks in velocity, he makes up for in spin rate, control and the ability to tunnel it well with his curveball. Speaking of his curveball, both FanGraphs and MLB Pipeline see this as a 60-grade offering in the future. He also has a sinking change-up, a third pitch with average-plus potential.

Christian MacLeod stands at a strong 6’4″, 220 pounds. The Pittsburgh Pirates already have a ton of notable starting pitching prospects before this draft, but you can never have too much pitching. For as much as Ben Cherington loves his pitchers, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Mississippi State lefty is on his radar.

PITTSBURGH, PA – JULY 20: A New Era pillbox Pittsburgh Pirates baseball hat is seen in the dugout during the game against the Philadelphia Phillies at PNC Park on July 20, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

Jonathan Cannon

Another pitcher the Bucs may be able to select in the second round is University of Georgia right-hander Jonathan Cannon. Cannon has tossed 38 innings in college posting a strong 2.37 ERA, 2.42 FIP and 0.86 WHIP.

Cannon has been great at keeping batters off base because of walks. He’s only walked 5 batters for a 3.4% walk rate. But this hasn’t affected his ability to strikeout batters either. He’s gotten 27.7% of all batters faced down on strike-three. He’s also had a pretty solid 0.71 HR/9 rate

So far in 2021, Cannon has a 9.67 K/BB ratio to go with his 3.38 ERA, 3.01 FIP and 1.01 WHIP. The only home runs he’s given up in his amateur career so far have all came from this season. All six of the right-hander’s appearances this year have been starts, but he tossed 11.1 scoreless innings in 2020 as a reliever.

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Cannon has a four pitch mix. His fastball comes in around 92-95 MPH, but has touched the upper-90s. He’s topped out at 97 MPH. He has both a slider and curveball to pair with his four seamer. His fourth offering is a changeup. The impressive part is that in their current state, none of his four pitches are considered below average offerings in the future.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates have the first overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, but their second round selection could see one of these three players being selected

Robby Martin

Christian MacLeod

Jonathan Cannon

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