Pirates load up on college arms, more middle infielders on Day 2 of MLB Draft

When the Pittsburgh Pirates picked three prep prospects on the first day of an MLB Draft that was considered loaded with college talent, it raised eyebrows and begged a question.

General manager Ben Cherington was asked Sunday night why the Pirates opted for high-ceiling high schoolers over high-floor college players with an open window for playoff contention.

“I think the simplest first part of the answer is the draft is really hard. It’s a really important event for us every year, and it’s a really hard thing to get right,” Cherington said. “I would never want to make something that’s already hard even harder by saying, ‘We’ve got to pick out of this demographic or that demographic.’ We just want to get the best, most combined talent that we can out of every draft.”

After selecting shortstop Konnor Griffin at No. 9 overall in the first round, right-handed pitcher Levi Sterling at No. 37 in the Competitive Balance-A round and shortstop Wyatt Sanford at No. 47 in the second round, the Pirates continued to focus on middle infielders and pitchers on the second day of the draft.

The Pirates chose college players with seven of their eight picks Monday, including four pitchers: Wake Forest left-hander Josh Hartle (third round), UC-Santa Barbara righty Matt Ager (sixth), Minnesota lefty Connor Wiegrefe (seventh) and Florida State righty Gavin Adams (eighth). That’s becoming a draft trademark under Cherington. The Pirates used seven of their eight picks on college pitchers on the second day of the draft last year and five of seven on Day 2 in 2022.

It’s no coincidence that the Pirates loaded up on middle infielders again by taking a prep shortstop in Eddie Rynders of Wisconsin Lutheran (fourth) and a second baseman in UCLA’s Duce Gourson (ninth). Cherington said the Pirates value prospects who can play up the middle, including center field, because of their potential positional versatility.

“It’s certainly an input. If players can do that, it’s probably going to help them on our list,” Cherington said. “But it’s not the only player we’ll consider taking, obviously. There are plenty of corner players, first basemen, catchers, etc., that we like and we’ll take, whether it’s tomorrow, the next day or in future drafts.

“We never corner ourselves in any one thing. But the middle-of-the-field player does have more places to go, typically, down the road, just more options. I don’t think it’s just the Pirates. A lot of teams value that. Certainly we do. It helps get those guys in a spot on the board that they’re at.”

That’s why it’s possible Griffin could move to center field, where he played for USA Baseball. MLB Pipeline analyst Jim Callis expects the 6-foot-2, 195-pound Rynders to move to third base because of his raw power potential.

“You want him to get more physical to tap into that power,” Callis said on the MLB.com draft livestream. “If he has the power people think, he can be an average third baseman but he’ll be in your lineup because he’s hitting 25 homers if he reaches the projection you hope.”

The Pirates also place a premium on character traits, which made their fifth-round choice of Clemson outfielder Will Taylor an interesting one. A three-sport high school star who was a two-time state wrestling champion, Taylor chose to play football and baseball at Clemson. A slot receiver, Taylor tore the ACL in his right knee that cost him some speed. Then he batted .230/.465/.480 this season before suffering a season-ending broken left wrist in mid-April.

“He could’ve had first-round money, really wanted to play football and injured his knee,” Callis said. “Guys still love the makeup. It’s some of the best makeup in this draft. Coming out of high school, it was plus-plus speed. Now he’s more of an average runner. He didn’t have great numbers. But it’s interesting. In the fifth round, I’ll take a gamble like this.”

Character became a theme from the start, with Cherington and amateur scouting director Justin Horowitz noting its importance in the selections of Griffin, Sterling and Sanford. That’s especially true of Griffin, whose pick carries a slot value of $6,216,600.

“It’s important, certainly we are talking about the first round and that level of investment,” Cherington said. “What a first-round pick carries with them along the way. There is a little bit of more attention on a first rounder. The character piece is important both in terms of the grind of baseball and working through that and being resilient through the tougher days, etc. Also, there is a little more attention on a first-rounder and that player is going to need to carry themselves and be a positive influence, etc. … You feel like whatever his potential is, he is going to give himself every chance to reach it through the work ethic and his desire and commitment.”