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Pittsburgh Pirates: Early Look at Potential Pitcher & Position Player Over Slot Draft Pick

By Noah Wright |
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New York Mets v Pittsburgh Pirates / Justin Berl/GettyImages
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The Pittsburgh Pirates have gone over-slot in the past, but these pitcher and position player draft prospects could potentially be available when the Pirates are on the clock.

In 2021, the Pittsburgh Pirates secured two first-round talents after their first-round pick. Those two were Anthony Solometo and Bubba Chandler. They also drafted and signed two top 100 draft talents later on in the draft in Lonnie White Jr. and Braylon Bishop. In 2022, they picked arguably the best hitter in the draft with Termarr Johnson. Later in the draft, they picked Michael Kennedy, one of the top LHP prep pitchers.

The thing all these players have in common is they were all over slot draft picks. The Pirates signed them for more than their slot value was worth. Depending on where players are picked or how old they are, they could be over-slot signees or under-slot signees. These are typically high school prospects who require the bonus to be over slot to pry them away from a college commitment or a player who was selected later than their projected draft slot.

The Pittsburgh Pirates will surely draft and sign at least one over-slot player. As of prospect rankings right now, who are some potential over-slot draftees to watch? (Keep in mind that these are based on current draft rankings. Rankings will certainly change once college and high school seasons wrap up).

LHP Cameron Johnson

Cameron Johnson is a tall and talented left-handed pitcher who is committed to LSU. He attends IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, and is also fairly young, as he just turned 18 years old. But the ceiling Johnson brings to the table is extremely high.

Johnson stands at a hulking 6’5”, 230 pounds before his 20th birthday. He uses that size to hurl a fastball through the zone in the 95-96 MPH range. His slider is a pitch that also has elite potential. It sits in the high-70s with nasty break. Then there’s his changeup. As of now, it’s very clearly a third pitch, according to MLB Pipeline, but he also hasn’t used it nearly as much as his fastball or slider. Simply an increase in usage could help it develop more.

It also helps that Johnson has a low arm slot. MLB Pipeline considers it a three-quarters arm slot. It’s not low enough to be considered sidearm, but if he were to drop down another three inches, it just might be. The only downsides he showed were some fatigue late into summer and some spotty command, but at just 18 years old, there’s plenty of time for him to get things in line. Imagine what he could look like at 22-23 years old.

With a gigantic frame, flaming fastball, low arm slot, and the last name Johnson, some might compare him to Randy Johnson. Of course, that is a fairly lazy comparison, but he definitely has a ton of talent. From an outsider’s perspective, this seems like a player who, if they followed through on their college commitment, could end up in the first half of the first round of a future MLB Draft. 

Currently, Johnson is MLB Pipeline’s 50th-best draft prospect, and the Pittsburgh Pirates have the 42nd overall pick in the second round. If the draft were tomorrow, there would be a distinct possibility he would still be available when the Pirates are on the clock, and though things could always change, Johnson is one player to watch this summer.

INF Colt Emerson

Colt Emerson hails from Ohio. The infielder could be the first high schooler drafted in the first three rounds out of the state since Derek Dietrich in 2007. Emmerson is a highly advanced batter who’s looking to get selected in the early stages of next year’s draft.

According to MLB Pipeline, Emerson has a high-end hit tool, coming in at a 60-grade weapon. He hit .360 during the showcase circuit. But he isn’t just a Kevin Newman-like hitter who makes a ton of contact with zero power to speak of. Emerson consistently drives the gaps with authority. Although he’s more of a doubles hitter, he has the potential to hit 20+ home runs a season.

Emerson’s swing is picturesque, and he uses his bat speed to generate most of his power. As a defensive infielder, Emerson spent his time on the U.S. National team as the third baseman. But he has plenty of playing time at shortstop. He’s a decent defender up the middle with a strong enough arm to play on the left side of the infield, though he could see time at all infield positions, maybe except for first base.

Next. Cutch is back. dark

Still, Emerson is a guy who could regularly bat .280 with 30+ doubles and 18+ home runs a season with decent defense wherever he ends up. He’s currently ranked as the 45th-best draft prospect, per MLB Pipeline, but he has a commitment to Auburn. Given his advanced approach, he seems like a guy who could quickly adapt to professional-level pitching and move up the minor league ladder with ease. 

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