Pittsburgh Pirates: 10 Years and 10 Rounds of the 2013 MLB Draft

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The Pittsburgh Pirates will be making the first overall selection in less than two weeks. The 2023 Major League Baseball Draft starts up on July 9th and thanks to the new "Draft Lottery System", the Pittsburgh Pirates have the top pick. A pick that will be crucial for them to not mess up.

I say that because something similar could have been said about the 2013 Draft. The Pittsburgh Pirates had two picks inside the top 15 that year after failing to sign Mark Appel the previous year. While missing out on Appel had its own fallout which affected the 2012 Draft, it also led to a potential Franchise altering Draft in 2013.

With the Bonus Slot system in place at that point, the Bucs were in a great position to really spend and they did. They were able to select two of the best prep players in the Draft in outfielder Austin Meadows at 9th overall and catcher Reese McGuire at 14th overall.

The team was apparently interested in McGuire at pick #9 but no one expected Austin Meadows to still be on the board that that point. So when that happened, it really looked like the Bucs had cleaned up in the first round. At the very least the Bucs had won the first round and had set themselves up to have a great Draft.

However, it did not really work out that way. With the 2023 Draft just days away, let's go back and look at the top 10 rounds of the 2013 Draft. Just a quick note, it is not a great group but there is one prospect who ended up having a long-term impact for the Organization even after being traded:

The Pittsburgh Pirates kicked off their 2013 draft with a bang, selecting outfielder Austin Meadows with the 9th overall pick. Meadows quickly established himself as one of the top prospects in baseball, displaying a blend of power, speed, and defensive prowess. Although he was later traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in a deal that brought Chris Archer to Pittsburgh, Meadows has become a key contributor for the Rays, showcasing his All-Star potential.

The Pirates' second selection in the first round brought them a highly regarded catcher in Reese McGuire. Known for his exceptional defensive skills, McGuire developed a reputation as a reliable backstop. While he struggled to make an impact with the Pirates, McGuire has since found success with the Toronto Blue Jays, showcasing his defensive prowess at the major league level.

With their second-round pick, the Pirates chose left-handed pitcher Blake Taylor. However, Taylor was later traded to the New York Mets in the deal that brought Ike Davis to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Although Taylor would end up being traded from the New York Mets to the Houston Astros for outfielder Jack Marisnick.

The Pirates selected JaCoby Jones, a talented shortstop with the 3rd round selection out of LSU. Jones possessed excellent athleticism and a strong arm, but his offensive development proved to be a challenge. After being traded to the Detroit Tigers in 2015, Jones has become a solid contributor for the Tigers, showcasing his defensive versatility in the outfield.

Left-handed pitcher Cody Dickson was taken by the Pirates in the fourth round of the 2013 draft. Dickson showcased promise during his time in the minor leagues, but a series of arm injuries and ineffectiveness ultimately forced him to retire from professional baseball in 2018. He left the Bucs after the 2017 season and stuck around in Independent Ball before retiring.

Trae Arbet, a shortstop with good defensive skills, was the Pittsburgh Pirates fifth-round selection in 2013. However, Arbet struggled to make significant progress in the organization, and he was eventually released after just 26 games in 2018. He was a career .226 hitter and never made it above Single-A.

The Pittsburgh Pirates best pick in the 2013 MLB Draft would end up being their 6th round pick, Adam Frazier.

In the sixth round, the Pirates unearthed a gem in infielder Adam Frazier out of Mississippi State. Frazier quickly climbed through the minor league ranks and made his major league debut in 2016. He proved to be a versatile player with a knack for getting on base. Frazier became an integral part of the Pirates' lineup, providing solid defense and consistent hitting before being traded to the San Diego Padres in 2021. He still is having an impact on the Organization as 2 of the 3 players acquired in the deal are with the Big League team. Both Jack Suwinski and Tucupita Marcano were acquired for the 2013 Draft pick.

Right-handed pitcher Buddy Borden was the Pirates' seventh-round pick in 2013. Borden showed promise in the minors but faced challenges with consistency. He was eventually traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in 2014. While Borden's major league opportunities were limited, his time in the Pirates' organization contributed to his development as a pitcher. He would be traded for Sean Rodriguez, a key bench piece for the team in 2014 and 2015.

The Pittsburgh Pirates selected right-handed pitcher Neil Kozikowski in the eighth round. Unfortunately, Kozikowski struggled to find success and was released by the organization in 2016. His career ERA was almost 5 and he never made it to Single-A.

With their ninth-round pick, the Pirates selected right-handed pitcher Chad Kuhl. Kuhl made his major league debut in 2016 and quickly established himself as a reliable starter. While injuries had hampered his progress at times, Kuhl became part of the Big League rotation in 2016. His career ERA with the Bucs was 4.44 in 100 total games.

In the tenth round of the 2013 MLB Draft, the Pittsburgh Pirates selected right-handed pitcher Shane Carle. Carle was traded from the Pirates in 2017 to the Colorado Rockies for pitcher Rob Scahill. He would be picked by up by the Pirates in a waiver claim during that next offseason. However, the Bucs would cut him a week later and trade him to the Braves for cash considerations or a PTBNL

The Pittsburgh Pirates 2013 draft class showcased a mix of hits and misses. While some top prospects like Austin Meadows and Adam Frazier flourished and made significant contributions to the organization, others faced challenges that limited their impact within the Pirates' system. Despite the varying outcomes, the draft class played a vital role in shaping the future of the organization and demonstrated the importance of selecting and developing talented prospects.

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