Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Potential Future Position Changes

Mitch Jebb

Mitch Jebb was the Pirates’ second-round pick of this year’s draft. Selected out of Michigan State, Jebb posted some very interesting numbers throughout his college career. In his last two seasons, Jebb batted .345/.447/.503. While Jebb only had seven homers and a .159 isolated slugging, he also walked (70) much more often than he struck out (44). He got a ton of hits and walks, leading to a healthy OBP and BA. Jebb also showed off his speed, swiping 34 bases, albeit also getting caught a dozen times.

Jebb carried this high-contact/walk approach into his first handful of professional plate appearances, Jebb slashed .297/.383/.398 with a .373 wOBA and 116 wRC+. Jebb, once again, showed off an outstanding ability to prevent strikeouts and draw walks. He drew a base on balls 11.1% of the time while striking out in less than 10% of his plate appearances (7.2%, to be exact). He only hit one home run and an ISO just two ticks above .100, but having an OBP approaching .400 will make up for that.

Jebb is a great runner and became one of the fastest players in the Pirate system the moment they signed him. Jebb stole 38 bases in 147 college games, then swiped 11 more in 12 attempts as a professional ball player. The infielder was ultra-aggressive in the Cape Cod League, going 26-35 in stolen base attempts.

Although the Pirates drafted Jebb as a primary shortstop, he split his time almost evenly between short and second base. He has the range and projects as an average defensive shortstop, though his arm plays better at second base. Jebb also played a handful of games at the hot corner in the Cape Cod League. With his elite speed, some have thrown the idea of him in center field.