Pittsburgh Pirates Draft: Early 2022 MLB Pipeline Mock Goes Shortstop

The Pittsburgh Pirates will have the 4th overall pick in the 2022 Draft. Here is an early look and who they could consider.

The Pittsburgh Pirates had the first overall pick this past year and were able to make a significant impact by drafting Henry Davis. However they should have another opportunity to find an elite talent again this year with the 4th overall pick. Again this will be a very important Draft for the future of the Pirate organization.

MLB Pipeline’s current mock draft has the Pittsburgh Pirates taking Brooks Lee with the #4 pick. A shortstop by trade, Lee posted strong numbers at California Polytechnic State University in 2021. In 250 trips to the plate, Lee slashed .342/.384/.626 with 10 home runs. Impressively, he racked up 27 doubles. Plus he struck out just 13.6% of the time. The downside is he had a 7.2% walk rate. Lee ended the season with a remarkable .424 wOBA.

Lee also did very well at the Cape Cod League. In 88 plate appearances, the switch-hitting slugger tallied 34 hits, 6 of which left the park. He continued to show an ability to post low  strikeout totals, going down on strike three just 16 times.

However, Lee countered his low strikeout totals with a measly walk total of 3. Lee has mostly played shortstop, but has also seen time at third base and second base. While he is considered a solid defender up the middle, his long-term home is projected to be the hot corner.

Right now Lee is looking like one of the most high-end talents in the 2022 MLB Draft. Despite the Pirates having plenty of middle infield talent in their farm system, adding another high end talent in Lee to the fold would still be a big addition for the Pirates. Especially with the long-term home for Brooks likely being third base.