Pittsburgh Pirates 2022 Mock Draft 1.0: Projecting a College Bat

The Pittsburgh Pirates have the fourth overall selection in this year’s Amateur Draft.  Who could the team select with the pick?

The Pittsburgh Pirates are drafting in the Top 5 in back-to-back seasons.  Last year the team had the first overall selection.  They took catcher Henry Davis first overall, arguably the top college bat in the Draft class. Some questioned the pick at the time, but Davis has impressed so far in his brief career.

For multiple reasons the Pittsburgh Pirates were able to save money on the Davis selection which allowed them to be more aggressive with their other selections. The team was able to use their savings and select high-end prep talent with their later picks.  Their next three selections were Anthony Solometo, Lonnie White Jr., and Bubba Chandler.  All three of these players ranked very highly and received over-slot bonuses.

Will the Pittsburgh Pirates have a similar approach to this year’s Draft?  With the team selecting fourth overall they will be on the outside looking in at the top 3.  Last year was nice as the team had the top pick and could weigh out their options well beforehand.  This year they will need to wait and see who goes in front of them.  So let’s take a look at who could end up at four for them:

Pittsburgh Pirates #4 Overall Pick

Brooks Lee, Shortstop, Selection

Yes, a middle infielder.  There are a few things that Pittsburgh Pirates should realize by now and it is that the team’s Front Office has a preference for college players early in the Draft. The first two drafts under Ben Cherington and Steven Sanders saw the Pittsburgh Pirates go with college hitters in Nick Gonzales and Henry Davis.  However, this was very much their pattern when the two brain trusts were with the Toronto Blue Jays.

So looking at the Draft board there are three college hitters who could be available at pick #4.  One is second baseman Jace Jung from Texas Tech, Chase DeLautre a right fielder from James Madison, and Peyton Graham a third baseman from Oklahoma. So why Lee?

Well, out of the group Lee might be the best pure hitter, a trait the Bucs have looked for with each of their last first-round selections.  Lee is having a strong college season batting .366 with an OPS over 1.100.  However, something that stands out, even more, is that he hit over .400 in the Cape Cod League last summer.  Again, a League that the Pittsburgh Pirates Front Office thinks favorably of when it comes to producing prospects.