Pittsburgh Pirates: Five Potential Rule 5 Draft Selections

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BOSTON, MA – JUNE 12: Ben Cherington, general manager of the Boston Red Sox, leaves the field before a game with the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park on June 12, 2015 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) /

At some point after MLB’s work stoppage ends the Rule 5 Draft will take place. The Pittsburgh Pirates will have an opportunity to find a no-risk prospect. Let’s examine some potential selections for the Pirates.

It has been confirmed that Major League portion of the Rule 5 Draft will take place at some point after MLB’s work stoppage ends. That means the Pittsburgh Pirates will have an opportunity to pick up a prospect with no risk attached.

The only thing the Pittsburgh Pirates would need to do is keep whatever player they pick on the 26-man roster for the entire season. At least, if the current form of the Rule 5 is the same post-CBA negotiations.

The Pittsburgh Pirates will have the 4th overall selection. Last year, they had the #1 pick and selected hard-throwing right-hander Jose Soriano from the Los Angeles Angels. They also traded for Luis Oviedo, who they now can option to the minor leagues as they kept him around for the entire 2021 campaign. Sure, they didn’t do all that well with their Rule 5 picks, at least based on what they showed for the Bucs so far (Soriano was returned to LAA), but it’s pretty much a chance to find a diamond-in-the-rough. Plus the jury is still out on Oviedo.

With the Pirates having the #4 pick, they should capitalize on trying to get a prospect from the draft, one that could potentially help long term, and become a regular part of the roster. This is an opportunity to find an under-the-radar player, and they should take advantage of that. So with that, here are five potential prospects that will be available to the Pirates’ #4 pick.

AMARILLO, TEXAS – AUGUST 01: Pitcher Levi Kelly #32 of the Amarillo Sod Poodles walks to the dugout during the second game of a double-header against the San Antonio Missions at HODGETOWN Stadium on August 01, 2021 in Amarillo, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

Right-handed pitcher Levi Kelly

Levi Kelly was an 8th round pick by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2018. After 6 scoreless innings in 2018 to start his professional career, Kelly had a fantastic 2019 season which put him on prospect maps. In 100.1 innings at Low-A Kelly posted an ERA of 2.15, WHIP of 1.10, and FIP of 2.80. Kelly was a strikeout machine, striking out 30.9% of all batters faced. He also allowed just 4 home runs for a 0.36 HR/9. He wasn’t a master at command, but a 9.6% walk rate isn’t awful either.

After the 2020 season where there was no minor league ball, Kelly started the2021 season at Double-A. He opened the season as the organization’s 14th best prospect, but his 2021 season wouldn’t go as planned. He only pitched 25 innings, all in relief. He missed a good chunk of time because of an arm injury. When he was pitching, he wasn’t pitching effectively. He allowed 15 earned runs on 16 hits. 3 of those were long balls. He also walked more batters than he struck out with only 27 strikeouts and 28 walks.

Now to say the right-hander doesn’t have talent would be an untrue statement. He has one of the best sliders in the minor leagues. It projects as a 70-grade pitch. Kelly isn’t a flamethrower and averages out around 92-95 MPH with his four-seamer. He’ll also toss a curveball and splitter. Overall, it’s an arsenal that could work as a back-of-the-rotation starter but projects much better as a reliever.

Some of Kelly’s struggles could be chalked up to injury. Kelly would be a fantastic use of the Rule 5 draft. It’s hard to pass up on a guy who has a 70-grade slider. Moving him to the pen would allow him to only focus on one or two other offerings. Plus, the fact he ranks as a top 15 prospect in a system that’s a top 5 system is also notable.

PHOENIX, AZ – FEBRUARY 18: Ricardo Genoves of the San Francisco Giants poses for a portrait at Scottsdale Stadium, the spring training complex of the San Francisco Giants on February 18, 2020 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Rob Tringali/Getty Images) /

Catcher Ricardo Genoves

The Giants opted to leave Ricardo Genoves unprotected from the Rule 5 Draft, which may have come as a bit of a surprise given Buster Posey’s retirement and Genoves falling into near-MLB ready territory.

The backstop got better as the season went on. He started off the year batting a measly .217/.294/.364 with a .298 wOBA, and 77 wRC+ at High-A. He had a solid 9% walk rate, but a 29.8% strikeout rate kept his numbers low. But Genoves turned on the afterburners once he was promoted to Double-A and then Triple-A.

In his next 161 plate appearances at Double-A, Genoves was batting .338/.441/.551 with a .442 wOBA, and 141 wRC+. Genoves had blasted 6 home runs while having a 13.7% walk rate. Additionally, he only struck out in 18% of those plate appearances.

Genoves was eventually promoted to Triple-A. He only appeared in 6 games and had 23 plate appearances, but he had 10 hits. Three were doubles and one was a long-ball. He only walked once and struck out 6 times, but he had a 201 wRC+ in 6 games at Triple-A.

Genoves has a ton of raw power. He has a projected 60-raw power grade, but only a 45-projected game power grade. If he can tap into that raw power into game power, he could be a 20-30 home run backstop. His hit tool is projected as a 45-grade, but that’s still solid. He’s an average defender with a strong arm.

The only backstop the Pittsburgh Pirates have on their 40-man roster right now is Roberto Perez. Genoves not only provides a solid backstop but one with power who could also DH for the Pirates. He’s also played a handful of games at first base, so the Pirates could move him around if his bat lives up to its potential.

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – MARCH 23: Blake Hunt of San Diego Padres hits the ball in the 4th inning during a friendly game between San Diego Padres and Diablos Rojos at Alfredo Harp Helu Stadium on March 23, 2019 in Mexico City, Mexico. The game is held as part of the opening celebrations of the Alfredo Harp Helu Stadium, now the newest in Mexico to play baseball. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images) /

Catcher Blake Hunt

The Tampa Bay Rays acquired Blake Hunt as one of the many prospects heading their way from the San Diego Padres last offseason in exchange for Blake Snell. The backstop is one of the highest-ranking prospects available in the draft as FanGraphs ranked him as the 108th best prospect in the minors.

Last season Hunt mainly spent the season at High-A Ball. In 257 plate appearances, Hunt only hit .225/.307/.427 with a .320 wOBA, and 96 wRC+. Hunt did have a 10.1% walk rate and did show some pop. He blasted 9 home runs while racking up 15 doubles. All told, he had a .203 isolated slugging percentage. However, he struck out 30.7% of the time. He was eventually promoted to Double-A but only had 63 plate appearances. Although, he did struggle to a 63 wRC+.

Hunt has plus power for a backstop. He has a projected 60-raw power grade as well as a 50-projected game power grade. Plus his hit tool is only a 45-grade. Fielding-wise, he’s about average with a strong arm.

Hunt being a power-hitting backstop with solid defense should intrigue any team in the Rule 5 draft. If he is still available when the Pirates’ pick comes up, they should consider him. Like with Genoves, the team has no 2nd backstop option. Hunt would provide a young power bat with upside.

Eugene Emeralds pitcher Seth Corry, right, throws against Hillsboro with a player in third during the second inning at PK Park in Eugene.Eug 051321 Ems 06 /

Left-handed pitcher Seth Corry

Seth Corry is another San Francisco Giant prospect. The southpaw was a third-round pick by the Giants in the 2017 draft. After a strong 2019 campaign, Corry entered the 2020 season as a top 100 prospect by MLB Pipeline. While he no longer ranks as a to 100 arm, he’s still intriguing nonetheless.

Last season Corry pitched 67.2 innings with the Giants High-A affiliate. We’ll start with the good. He had a 31.5% strikeout rate, as well as a strong batted ball profile. The lefty induced ground balls at a 47.1% rate and only had a 16.7% line-drive rate. He has a plus fastball that comes in around 93-96 MPH, and a curveball that projects as plus-plus. To go with it, he also has a solid change-up.

Now here’s the downside. Corry has very poor command. He walked 19.9% of all batters faced last year. This, in part, led to a 5.99 ERA, 5.25 FIP, and 1.71 WHIP. Some might point out his high batting average on balls in play at .363, but a near-20% walk rate isn’t going to cut it, no matter what his other numbers suggest. He’s always had a 10%+ walk rate. Even in his strong 2019 season, he walked 11.4% of all batters faced.

Still, he’s pretty much what many teams like in a Rule 5 pick. A high-upside pitcher who has good raw stuff, and is only amplified by the fact he’s a lefty. Corry could slot in as a lefty reliever in the pen right now. Currently, the only lefties the Pittsburgh Pirates have as relievers are Anthony Banda and Sam Howard.

PITTSBURGH, PA – SEPTEMBER 11: General view of the field during a ceremony commemorating the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks before the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Washington Nationals at PNC Park on September 11, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /

Left-handed pitcher Joey Cantillo

The Cleveland Indians/Guardians acquired southpaw Joey Cantillo in the trade that sent Mike Clevinger to the San Diego Padres. The soon-to-be 22-year-old only pitched 13 innings this year, missing a good chunk of the season due to injuries. But if he’s healthy, he could be a very nice Rule 5 pick-up.

The last time Cantillo pitched a noteworthy amount of innings was in 2019. He pitched 98 of his 111 innings at Low-A where he posted a 1.93 ERA, 2.15 FIP, and 0.86WHIP. Cantillo is a strikeout machine. He’s always posted a strikeout rate above 30% since his pro debut back in 2017. While he struggled with command in his short 13 innings stint in 2021, his career walk rate is only 9.1%. In terms of home runs, he’s given up just 5 in 181.2 career innings.

Cantillo throws three offerings. The southpaw isn’t a flamethrower as his four-seam fastball only averages out in the low-90’s. He has touched 94, but his pitchability and command with his fastball are what make it a solid pitch. He also throws a curveball which at its best is an average offering. It currently resides in a 45-projected. His best offering is a changeup. Both FanGraphs and MLB Pipeline see this as a well-above-average pitch. FanGraphs sees it reaching a 60-grade when he’s developed fully.

Cantillo also has projected-plus command. While it’s not reflected in his walk rate, he has a sub-8% walk rate in seasons where he has pitched at least 20 innings. Now he is a bit young. Next year will only be his age-22 campaign. Plus, he only has 8 innings pitched in the upper minor leagues. He’d be a solid pick-up to serve as a long relief man and also make a few spot starts here-and-there.

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