Pittsburgh Pirates: Three LHPs to Watch in the Draft

LHP Trey Dombrowski

If Hansen has elite command, then Trey Dombrowski has the best command in the draft. Dombrowski is coming out of Monmouth University. That might not be the first school that comes to mind when it comes to college baseball, but that doesn’t take away from Dombrowski’s ability.

Dombrowski pitched 95 innings this season, posting a 3.13 ERA and .99 WHIP. Unlike Hansen, Dombrowski wasn’t prone to the long ball, having a 0.95 HR/9 rate. The lefty had an 8.57 K:BB ratio because of his extreme ability to limit walks and strikeout batters. He’s the only guy we’ll talk about today who had a strikeout rate above 30%, clocking in at 31.3%. However, he allowed fewer walks on average than Hansen, having a 3.6% walk rate.

The thing is, none of Dombrowski’s offerings are stand-out. He stands at a strong 6’5, 235, but only averages out around 88-92 MPH. His curveball and slider are above average, and he also throws a quality change-up. All of his offerings have 50-55 grade potential, but what makes them all play up is his 70-grade control. He knows exactly where the pitch is going when it comes out of his hand.

Ranked as the 110th draft prospect per MLB Pipeline, he could definitely be on the Pirates’ radar for the fourth round. His stuff is better than Hansen or Mathews, and his command is arguably the best in the entire draft. Even if the Pirates go a different route, I’d like to believe they at least kicked the tires on him.