Pittsburgh Pirates 2021 MLB Draft: Lonnie White Jr. at pick Number 64 Overall

The Pittsburgh Pirates are working to have a franchise-altering draft class. Here is who they took with their third pick.

The Pittsburgh Pirates were assigned the largest draft bonus poll for the 2021 MLB draft. We can already see the strategy coming into play as the Pirates took college catcher Henry Davis with the first overall selection. The team is expected to save money against his signing bonus, which will then allow them to spread out more signing bonus money elsewhere. We can already see this with pick number 37 in the second round. The team selected prep left-handed pitcher Anthony Solometo. The big lefty ranked at number 17 overall on MLB Pipeline, so he will definitely be an over-slot deal.

Still, the Pirates added two of the top talents in the draft already. The Pittsburgh Pirates next election came at number 64 overall which is considered a Competitive Balance B round. With the number 64 overall pick, the Pittsburgh Pirates selected outfielder Lonnie White Jr. A prep outfielder, White comes out of Malvern Prep (Eastern PA).

Lonnie White Jr. is an extremely talented outfield prospect that some believed could’ve been a first-round pick. The reason he was not a first-round pick is that he is also a highly rated linebacker commit to Penn State. So obviously this fits a Ben Cherington draft mold.  The Pittsburgh Pirates get another highly athletic player with very projectable upside.  White stands at 6’3” and weighs close to 215 pounds.  Obviously a lot of speed and power upside.  The question as FanGraphs points out will be if he can make enough contact.  That will be up to the Pittsburgh Pirates development team.

"“He has center field skills, and a chance for above average raw power if he can hit.”"

Lonnie White Jr. was considered the number 54 best available prospect on FanGraphs big board. Again, this is Ben Cherington getting legit upside talent later in the draft.  Yes, White will have signability questions but this is pretty clear why the Pittsburgh Pirates went with the college bat first overall. The savings on Davis will go directly towards signing Solometo and White.  A great haul to start.