Pittsburgh Pirates: Two 2021 Draft Picks Who Could Move Quickly

(Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
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May 1, 2021; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington talks on the field before the game against the St. Louis Cardinals at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
May 1, 2021; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington talks on the field before the game against the St. Louis Cardinals at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

The Pittsburgh Pirates had one of their best drafts in their franchise history, but these two prospects could be in the majors by next season.

The Pittsburgh Pirates had one of the best drafts in their franchise history this season. They went under slot with the #1 overall pick, which gave them the confidence to draft highly regarded talents such as Anthony Solomento, Lonnie White Jr., and, most notably, Bubba Chandler as they had the money to go sign the four.

Most of the notable talents that the Pittsburgh Pirates selected in this year’s draft are coming out of high school. That’s the case for Solomento, White, Chandler, and another highly regarded draftee Braylon Bishop. However, the Pirates didn’t completely skip on college players.

The team took a few college players who we could see in the Majors very soon. They’re already approaching 23-24 years old, meaning that they could start their pro careers in the upper ends of the minor leagues this year. Their quick ascent could lead to them being in the major leagues as soon as next season. So let’s take a look at two guys that should come up first.

Jun 30, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; A general view of a Pittsburgh Pirates glove and hat in the eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 30, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; A general view of a Pittsburgh Pirates glove and hat in the eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

Infielder Jackson Glenn

The Pittsburgh Pirates used their 5th round pick on infielder Jackson Glenn. Glenn, a product of Dallas Baptist University, put on a show during his time in college, especially in his final season. The 23-year-old, who will turn 24 in October, batted .317/.400/.567 with 30 home runs, 40 doubles, and even showed some speed with 16 stolen bases in 18 attempts. Glenn showed strong plate discipline, walking 12% of the time while going down on strikes just 13.3% of all his plate appearances. Overall, Glenn put up a .415 wOBA.

This past season, Glenn put up a .366/.438/.732 batting line. He ended up smacking 21 home runs while driving the gap for 21 doubles. Glenn was perfect in stolen base attempts, going 13/13. His great plate patience was on display this year as well as he drew 32 walks (11.8%) while striking out 33 times (12.1%). Glenn’s final season in college saw him put up an outstanding wOBA that was approaching .500 at .491.

Glenn mainly played third base in 2019 and 2020, but he played primarily second base in 2021. He’s played at least one game at every infield position throughout his time at college. That gives him some defensive versatility that the Pirates can definitely take advantage of.

The right-handed batter stands at 5’11, 205 pounds. He has some surprising power for a smaller frame than what you’d expect for a guy who had a .250 isolated slugging percentage throughout college and a .366 mark in his final college season. Given that Glenn will be the age most major league players are already at the game’s highest level at the end of this season, he should be one of, if not the first 2021 draft pick we see in the Major Leagues.

BRADENTON, FLORIDA – MARCH 22: A detail of the 2021 MLB Grapefruit league logo during a spring training game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Baltimore Orioles on March 22, 2021 at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
BRADENTON, FLORIDA – MARCH 22: A detail of the 2021 MLB Grapefruit league logo during a spring training game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Baltimore Orioles on March 22, 2021 at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

Utility Man Mike Jarvis

Mike Jarvis was picked right after Glenn. The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Jarvis with their sixth-round pick and he looks like a pretty solid pick. Like Glenn, Jarvis put up great numbers in college. Coming out of San Diego State University, Jarvis batted .325/.398/.495 with 12 long balls and 29 doubles in 503 plate appearances. Jarvis does have some power, indicated by his solid .170 isolated slugging percentage. But he also has some pretty decent baserunning ability. Jarvis stole 29 bases in 36 attempts. He didn’t walk all that much with just a 6.8% rate, but he only struck out 12.5% of the time. All told, Jarvis had a .391 wOBA.

This past season was a great finale for Jarvis’ college career. In 236 plate appearances, the right-handed batter hit .367/.417/.544. He only had 5 long balls, but 17 doubles. He was also 16/20 in stolen base attempts. Jarvis displayed his strong ability to avoid the K with a sub-10% K-rate (8.5%). However, he walked at an amateur career-low rate of just 5.1%. He still had a wOBA above .400 at .418.

The Pittsburgh Pirates can put Jarvis wherever they need him to play. Jarvis mainly played shortstop in 2021. However, he split his time in right field and second base at San Diego in 2019. In the Northwoods League, he played left field. Then when he returned to college ball in 2020, he split his time again, this time at center field and second base. The only three positions he hasn’t appeared at in at least one game are first base, catcher, and pitcher. Though he could probably man first base if need be, as well as third base.

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The 23-year-old, who will turn 24 next May, is more of a hit-over-power kind of player. Though, he isn’t completely lacking in power. The only season he had an ISO below .170 was in 2020, but that was in just 76 plate appearances as the college season was cut short, and he still had a respectable .150 mark. Given that he can play just about anywhere the Pirates would need him to, they could use him as a hold-over at second base or shortstop until both Nick Gonzales and Liover Peguero are ready. If he overperforms, well then the Pirates may have found a good player who can hit and play wherever they need him to.

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