Pirates' 2024 Wake Forest draft pick better be more successful than the 2016 version

When the Pittsburgh Pirates selected left-handed pitcher Josh Hartle out of Wake Forest in the third round of the 2024 MLB Draft, it was (hopefully) the start of a new chapter in the club's history when drafting Demon Deacons.

The last time the Pirates drafted a player from Wake Forest, it didn't work out so well. We all remember Will Craig – sadly, not as the Pirates' first-round pick (No. 22 overall) in 2016, but as the guy who committed that infamous fielding blunder against the Chicago Cubs in 2021.

In fairness, Craig had a decent minor league career. But those numbers didn't translate in the big leagues, where he batted .217 with one home run and three RBI in 20 games.

He eventually tried his luck playing overseas, but his failed chance at a fresh start ended with him returning to Wake Forest to finish his college degree in 2022 and joining the school's baseball coaching staff as a student assistant coach in 2023.

The Pirates moved on from Craig, who, in turn, moved on from baseball. Now, the club hopes that its latest selection out of Wake Forest won't end up being a bust like the last one.

Pirates are banking on MLB Draft pick Josh Hartle looking like his 2023 self

If Josh Hartle can return to his 2023 form, this pick looks like a steal for the Pirates. He was first-team All-ACC in his sophomore season after going 11-2 with a 2.81 ERA and 140 strikeouts in 102 1/3 innings. He was also a Golden Spikes Award semifinalist. Coming out of high school in 2021, he was the Gatorade North Carolina Player of the Year and the No. 2 prospect in North Carolina, according to Perfect Game.

Entering the 2024 campaign, Hartle had first-round potential and and was considered one of the top collegiate pitchers in this draft class. He struggled this season, however, posting a 5.79 ERA in 74 2/3 innings, which saw him slide down the draft board for the Pirates to grab him at No. 83.

Hartle's subpar 2024 numbers could be the result of a change in pitch usage. According to MLB.com's scouting report, Hartle got "cutter-happy" at the expense of his fastball in his junior season, causing a decline in his precision.

"Once considered a lock to be at least a No. 4 starter in the big leagues with the upside of a No. 2," the report says, "[Hartle] now has scouts trying to figure out what happened and whether it can be fixed."

The Pirates seem to believe that it can be, and that this Demon Deacon draft pick will pan out better than their last one.

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