Pittsburgh Pirates Draft: Making a Case for Each of the Top 3 Prospects

Dylan Crews, OF, LSU - 6'0, 205 lbs., 21 y/o
.426 BA / .567 OBP / .713 SLG
258 AB, 18 HR, 70 RBI, 6 stolen bases, 71 walks

Why the Pirates Should Draft Dylan Crews

Simply put, he has the potential to be a generational talent. He reached base in all 71 of LSU's games this season, showing incredible plate discipline to match his stellar hitting prowess and elite speed. In the outfield, he routinely makes even the hardest plays look like a walk in the park.

He's coming off a Golden Spikes Award (given to the nation's top amateur baseball player) and a win at the 2023 College World Series. Pair this with two SEC Player of the Year Awards and a couple of All-America selections, and you've got yourself one of the most decorated college baseball players of all time.

Why the Pirates Should NOT Draft Dylan Crews

There aren't many reasons why it would make sense not to draft Crews at the number 1 spot, but recent speculation that he doesn't want to play for Pittsburgh may be enough for the Pirate front office to think twice about spending their money and time on a player who doesn't want to be there. Of course, these reports could be smoke and mirrors to raise his price, throw off other teams, or they could just be categorically false altogether, but they do cause some concern for the decision-makers in Pittsburgh.

Paul Skenes, RHP, LSU - 6'6, 235 lbs., 21 y/o
122.2 IP, 1.69 ERA, 12-2 W-L, 209 strikeouts, 20 walks
0.750 WHIP, 15.3 K/9, 10.5 K/BB

Why the Pirates Should Draft Paul Skenes

The appeal of Paul Skenes can be found in every part of his game. His massive frame and eye-popping stats make him one of the best pitching prospects we've seen in over a decade. With his elite pitch speed (dishes out triple-digit 4-seamers like candy) and stamina to match (120+ pitch count max), I don't see his stint in the minor leagues lasting very long.

On top of all this, the guy can flat-out hit the ball. I'm not saying he's the next Shohei Ohtani by any means, but his .367 batting average with 24 homers and 81 RBIs in 341 college at-bats along with his Divison 1 experience playing catcher on his off-days make him an interesting offensive option if his throwing arm ever flames out.

Why the Pirates Should NOT Draft Paul Skenes

To put it bluntly, pitchers are risky choices to spend a top 5 draft pick on. Of the nine pitchers drafted in the top 5 between 2015-2020, only two of them (Hunter Greene and Mackenzie Gore) have pitched more than 20 innings in 2023, three of them have required Tommy John surgery, and three have pitched less than 10 MLB Innings in their careers.

Does this technically mean anything as it pertains to Skenes? Of course not, every player is unique. Does it cast some concern for a front office member? Potentially.

Wyatt Langford, OF, Florida - 6'1, 235 lbs., 21 y/o
.373 BA / .498 OBP / .784 SLG
236 AB, 21 HR, 57 RBI, 9 stolen bases, 56 walks

Why the Pirates Should Draft Wyatt Langford

Florida's power-hitting left fielder Wyatt Langford has the potential to be a star in Major League Baseball. He's as solid as they come at the plate and possesses incredible fielding range with his speed and athletic ability. He's not the popular choice among the fans, but he has serious upside and elite plate discipline. He also had more doubles, triples, homers, steals, and total bases than Crews in 41 fewer plate appearances.

Why the Pirates Should Not Draft Wyatt Langford

The dilemma with drafting Langford is simply that he's an outfielder not named Dylan Crews. Outfield play has been the least of Pittsburgh's concerns this season, but to draft a player who is essentially the same position as Crews but isn't Crews is sure to upset some fans who believe the LSU Tiger is the better choice for the Pirate future.

The Sleeper Candidate - Arjun Nimmala

Arjun Nimmala, SS, HS - 6'1, 170 lbs., 17 y/o
.479 BA / .573 OBP / .904 SLG
89 PA, 35 H, 6 HR, 29 RBI, 9 stolen bases, 14 walks

Dark horse picks are supposed to be fun and unexpected, right? If I just used the 4th or 5th ranked draft prospect, what would be the fun in that? Here's my breakdown of Arjun Nimmala:

Why the Pirates Should Draft Arjun Nimmala

There are a couple of factors that I think make Arjun Nimmala an extremely interesting prospect. The first of these factors is that this kid is 17 years old. He doesn't turn 18 until October and is already considered one of the top three infielders in this year's draft class. Another factor is that the Pirates need help at 2nd base, and Arjun Nimmala can play every infield position. Sure, they just called up Nick Gonzales and 2022 4th Overall pick Termarr Johnson is tearing it up in the minor leagues, but there's no guarantee that either of those guys will have big league success. Nimmala offers a lot of time to develop an already incredible offensive and defensive tool kit, and he's got swagger and charisma that will make him a fan favorite wherever he lands.

Why the Pirates Should Not Draft Arjun Nimmala

The answer here is pretty obvious, and that is that Nimmala is way too big of a risk to spend the first overall pick on, especially in a draft class that is seemingly as stacked as this year is. Nimmala could very well end up having a career better than Crews, Skenes, or Langford, but if the Buccos use the first pick on him, Pirates fans will be storming the front office and calling for the firing of the entire staff.

To recap, I do believe it's a two-man race between Dylan Crews and Paul Skenes for the top pick in the 2023 Draft, but I think it's fun to check out some of the other options and why each player may be a better option than the next. Whatever the Pirates decide to do with the top selection on July 9th, I can't wait to cheer on the future of this franchise.