Pittsburgh Pirates: An Early Three-Round Mock Draft

The 2023 draft will give the Pittsburgh Pirates a chance to select one of the two most hyped names in recent college baseball history, so let's take a look at a too early mock draft.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have the first overall pick in the 2023 draft, making it the second time in three years since the Pirates have the first overall pick. This year's draft also looks to be one of the more interesting ones as it holds maybe the best talents the amateur world has seen in quite a while. Regardless, the Pirates will have yet another opportunity to make a significant addition to their farm system.

Last year, the Pirates selected Termarr Johnson with their first-round pick. Then in 2021, they went under slot and picked Henry Davis, but also were able to secure Anthony Solometo and Bubba Chandler, two more prospects who were considered top 20 talents heading into the draft. Now with the #1 pick once again, the team will have free reign over the first round.

It's still way early as the draft will not commence for nearly another seven months, but based on current rankings, what could a potential three-round mock draft look like for the Pirates?

Round Two - Cameron Johnson

I'll admit it; I've fallen in love with Cameron Johnson as a prospect. I hope and pray that he's still on the board when the Pirates are on the clock and that the Pirates select him. There's still a distinct possibility he is available as well, at least right now. The strapping southpaw may just be one of the most interesting left-handed pitchers in the draft and high school arms in the class.

Standing at 6'5", 230 pounds, Johnson is a massive kid at just 18 years of age. Johnson uses his size to fling a mid-to-upper 90s fastball through the zone. He's already averaging 95-96 MPH. He also has a good slider, one that sits in the upper-70s. MLB Pipeline sees it as a proper out pitch. His third offering is a change-up. Although Pipeline isn't too bullish on it right now, he's still just 18. There's plenty of time for him to start incorporating the pitch more and getting a better feel for it.

Not only does he throw hard with a nice breaking ball, but he does it with a low three-quarters arm slot. It's about as low as you can get before being considered a side-arm pitcher. There's a lot to like about Johnson, but there is some risk. During the summer, he showed fatigue later into the season. This affected his game overall, and he became less sharp during the year.

Still, at 18 years old, he is already pumping 95-96 MPH through the zone, and with his frame, Johnson should be on the Pirates' draft radar. If he decides to go through with his commitment to LSU, I think he would become a top-ten draft prospect in two or three years. Ranked as the 50th-best prospect per MLB Pipeline, there's a possibility he's still available when the Pirates are on the clock for the second round and with the 42nd overall selection.

Competitive Balance Pick - Walker Martin

The Pittsburgh Pirates will have the 67th overall selection, and with that pick, I have the Pirates taking high school infielder Walker Martin. Martin is a product of Colorado and a very well-rounded player. According to MLB Pipeline, all five of his tools grade out as average or better. However, there isn't anything that stands out as elite in his game.

Martin was a two-sport star at his high school, Centennial State. Although he didn't originally get a chance to show what he could do against better competition because of football, he finally got the opportunity, and scouts believe he'll have decent power. Martin displayed decent bat speed, but at 6'2", 188 pounds, there's room for growth and additional physical power. Even though he faced better competition in a small sample size, he didn't have an issue catching up and squaring the ball off pitchers.

Martin is considered an average runner with above-average athleticism. He's also displayed solid defense at shortstop. However, given his physical projection, he might not last at shortstop long-term. But given his athleticism and arm that can play on the left side of the infield, he could see time at third, second, or an outfield spot. You also can't fully rule out shortstop, even if some don't project him to stay there.

Martin is a guy who could hit .260 with 20 home runs a year from a premium position. Ranked as MLB Pipeline's 73rd-best prospect, the infielder is currently projected to go in the early third round. However, he could definitely end up getting selected in the late second round. Either way, he's a high school position player that has a chance of being available when the Pirates are selecting in the competitive balance round B.

Round Three - Brandon Sproat

Dylan Crews is going to take a lot of money to sign and potentially even approach the record-setting number. Meanwhile, Cameron Johnson is going to take over slot money to pry him away from his commitment to LSU and Walker Martin from his commitment to Arkansas. They're going to have to take an under slot player at some point, and one could be Brandon Sproat, a senior righty from the University of Florida who is re-entering the draft (he was drafted by New York Mets in 2022 but did not sign).

Sproat had a solid junior season, posting a 3.41 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, and 2.48 K:BB ratio through 89.2 innings. Sproat only had an 8.6% walk rate and a 21.5% strikeout rate. But his biggest strength was preventing the home run. Sproat allowed just five dingers, leading to a 0.5 HR/9 rate. 

Sproat can run it up into the upper-90s. He has hit 99 MPH before but typically sits around 96 MPH. Along with his fastball, the right-hander throws two breaking offerings. Between the two, his slider is the better pitch. It's a mid-80s offering, but his curveball does have the potential to be an average offering. Sporat's fourth offering is a change-up. Although he doesn't use it as frequently, don't sleep on it. It does have some decent movement.

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2023 will be Sproat's age-22 campaign and his final year at college. At 6'3", 210 pounds, Sproat does have a starter's build. While he does have mediocre control, he definitely has some impressive stuff. It is impressive to have a starting pitcher who can regularly run it up to around 98 MPH. He could be a very underrated prospect and a player the Pirates keep an eye on.