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Pittsburgh Pirates: MLB Pipeline Releases 2021 Expert Mock Draft

By Nicholas Caporoso |
OAKLAND, CA - MAY 11: General Manager Ben Cherington of the Boston Red Sox stands on the field prior to the game against the Oakland Athletics at O.co Coliseum on May 11, 2015 in Oakland, California. The Red Sox defeated the Athletics 5-4. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - MAY 11: General Manager Ben Cherington of the Boston Red Sox stands on the field prior to the game against the Oakland Athletics at O.co Coliseum on May 11, 2015 in Oakland, California. The Red Sox defeated the Athletics 5-4. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/Getty Images)

With the Draft starting in July, MLB Pipeline has released a mock draft. This is of interest given the Pittsburgh Pirates have the first selection.

The Pittsburgh Pirates were the worst in Major League Baseball in 2020, which puts them in position to have the first pick in this year’s Draft along with the highest bonus pool.  For a rebuilding club, that is a good sign and should allow the club to restock the farm system and build out a solid foundation.

After looking at potential scenarios last week, it seems Jack Leiter is still the favorite to go first overall.  Jonathan Mayo and Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline released their first mock draft of the season, picking the first overall 20 picks.  Mayo and Callis are respected veterans in the industry, and their opinions of players usually closely align with those in the game.  This first mock draft though is their opinion and not from inside sources.  It is still intriguing to see who these two value highly.

To start off, Callis had the Pittsburgh Pirates and selected right-handed pitcher Jack Leiter.  Given Leiter’s performance at Vanderbilt this season, this makes sense.  He’s seen as the best pitcher and the best college player in the draft.  Leiter’s stock has increased this season and he is clearly more favored than Kumar Rocker is right now.

What’s interesting is Mayo took high school shortstop Jordan Lawlar with the second pick, and called him “the next best player in the class right now as a five-tool player at a premium position.”  Lawlar is in play for the first overall pick and displays a unique skillset that could interest the Pittsburgh Pirates new front office.  One of the more surprising picks is that Rocker has fallen to number four in this mock draft.  Once seen as the favorite to go first overall this year, it seems that the right-hander has lost some stock while remaining a top prospect.

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With Callis and Mayo releasing their first mock, even if it’s just their opinion, the two give insight into what will happen in July.  It appears that Jack Leiter and Jordan Lawlar are the two players in the running to go first overall with Rocker falling.  The draft won’t happen until July, but it’s nice to see some early speculation.

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