Pittsburgh Pirates: Potential Competitive Balance Pick Options

The Pittsburgh Pirates will have the 34th overall pick in the draft to go with the 4th overall pick, so how could they use that 34th selection in this draft?

The Pittsburgh Pirates will enter the 2022 MLB Draft with the 4th overall pick and the 34th pick. They will have a competitive balance Round A pick after the first round. Last year, the Pirates were quite creative with their selection process, going under slot with Henry Davis at 1/1 but then picking guys who were projected first-rounders like Bubba Chandler and Anthony Solometo. There are many ways the Pirates can use this competitive balance pick.

This early competitive balance pick could incentivize the Pirates to use a similar strategy this year compared to last year. One pick who could go under slot is corner infielder Jacob Berry. Berry has some of the best power in the draft. He has 25 home runs and a .330 isolated slugging percentage throughout his college career so far.

Berry has mainly played right field this year at LSU but projects as a first baseman long term. Because he is limited in terms of positions, the chances are that going #4 overall would be a slightly undershot pick.

This would fit Ben Cherington’s draft mantra since becoming the Pirate general manager, picking a college bat in the first round. Cherington has selected Nick Gonzales out of New Mexico State and Henry Davis out of Louisville in the last two drafts. Going under slot at no. 4 would likely lead to an over-slot no. 34 selection. It’s quite possible that Kumar Rocker could fall to 34th. Rocker was one of the best pitchers in last year’s draft and was selected by the New York Mets 10th overall. But concerns surrounding his health led to his deal falling through.

Rocker still comes with some slight concerns. He already has pitched well over 200 innings in college, and evaluators will need to see where his velocity is sitting after erratic shifts in fastball velo last season. Even if Rocker gets selected before the 34th pick, there’s still a good chance the Pittsburgh Pirates find an over-slot guy if they go under slot at no. 4.

Alternatively, the Pirates could take a more traditional route. The best possible player that looks to be available at #4 is Elijah Green. Green brings power, speed, and a great glove and arm that can remain in center field long term. He has some questions about his ability to make contact consistently as he strikes out a ton. But he’d likely be a slot value pick at no. 4.

If the Pirates decide to go a conventional route, many highly talented players would still sign for slot value at 34. Walter Ford is a notable high school pitcher, and selecting him would give the Pirates another highly talented right-handed pitcher for the system. Peyton Pallette would be a potential college arm. But he did undergo Tommy John surgery, so if the Pirates really wanted him, they might be able to pass on him and get him early in the second round.

In the event that either Drew Jones or Termarr Johnson fall no. 4 overall, the Pirates might use the 34th pick as a slight under-slot pick. Jones and Johnson are essentially the 1A to the first baseman. Jones and Johnson are considered the two best prospects in this year’s draft, but one may fall to the Pittbsurgh Pirates at no. 4. We’ve seen consensus no. 1-2 guys like Marcelo Mayer and Austin Martin fall outside the top 3 picks in the past few years.

Either Jones or Johnson would constitute an over-slot signing bonus. The Pirates could get it out of the way early with the 34th pick or wait a few rounds later. The Pirates probably wouldn’t use the 34th pick as an undershot pick, even if they went with either Johnson or Jones at no. 4. Going under-slot that early might not be the best idea.

The Pirates will be going into the draft with two picks before the start of the second round. In the last few years, Ben Cherington has maximized the Pittsburgh Pirates allotted draft money to the best of the organization’s ability. It’s been one of the major driving forces in this rebuild and this draft could yield another crop of highly talented young players.