Pittsburgh Pirates Draft: Elijah Green vs Druw Jones

Druw Jones

Druw Jones has some big shoes to fill. He’s the son of former Atlanta Braves’ all-time great Andruw Jones, who’s arguably the best defensive center fielder, has the 6th most home runs of any centerfielder, and who deservedly belongs in the Hall Of Fame. But based on his talent level, Drew Jones could do what his father did.

Jones doesn’t have the awe-inspiring power potential Green has, but he still has the chance to be a 30 home run hitter. FanGraphs projects him to reach 60-grade raw power, with MLB Pipeline projecting 60-power as well. He also has great speed and more than enough to remain in centerfield.

If you thought Green was a good defender, Jones is even a step up from that. He’s the best defender in this year’s draft, having a 70-fielding grade by MLB Pipeline, 60 by FanGraphs, and a 60-grade arm by both prospect evaluation sites. If Green is a 40/40 batter who could consistently compete for a Gold Glove, Jones is a 30/30 batter who could consistently compete for a Platinum Glove.

The downside? He’s very predictable to where he hits the ball. He often goes to right-center enough to where an outfield shift could limit his ability. But if that’s the only issue at 18-years-old, Jones could have a lot in store.