Pirates closing in on draft day

Three weeks from today the Pittsburgh Pirates will select first overall in the MLB amateur draft. The draft, as many Pirates fans know, has been nothing short of disappointing over the last decade and beyond. Poor decision after poor decision by Pirates management has left the team to dwell in the cellar for far too long.

With the first pick the Pirates could go in one of two directions. With the abundance of pitching in this year’s draft they might decide to pass on the first few pitching prospects and go with the best position player. On the other hand, they could continue to stockpile pitching depth like they did in last years draft when they drafted pitchers in the first two rounds.

Gerrit Cole – SP, UCLA


Cole is rated by most as the #1 prospect in this draft class. The 6-4 right-handed power pitcher has as lively of an arm as anyone entering this year’s draft. His fastball has been clocked between 96-98 mph and Cole has shown the ability to maintain that velocity deep into ball games. To go along with a blazing fastball, Cole incorporates a hard, devastating slider that should prove to be a great strikeout pitch in the majors.

Finally, an above average changeup, which I think, separates the good pitchers from the great pitchers in the game. The ability to keep hitters off balance is one of the most important things a pitcher hopes to accomplish every time out on the mound. With the repertoire that Cole possesses, it’s difficult to imagine he won’t excel at the next level.

In his three years at UCLA Cole has been a workhorse. In his sophomore campaign he went 11-4 with a 3.37 ERA in 123 innings pitched. This year, his junior season, Cole has struggled at some spots but has shown he’s capable of bouncing back after a rough start. His 5-6 mark doesn’t do him justice this year although he has completed four games and thrown one shutout. The Bruins are hoping that with the help of Cole, and future first round pick, pitcher Trevor Bauer, they can make it back to the College World Series.

If nothing else, Cole is a big-game pitcher. This is a guy who should translate into a top of the rotation starter in the majors. He has three above average pitches and if he can reign in his control, he could be comparable to a Josh Johnson.



Danny Hultzen – SP, UVA



Danny Hultzen has only recently been climbing into conversations about the first few picks of the 2011 draft. But if you look at his numbers throughout his career, you have to wonder why he wasn’t in the conversation earlier.

Hultzen has been Mr. Consistent during his tenure at Virginia. In his first two years at UVA he went 20-2 with a 2.48 ERA and this, his junior season, he boasts a 9-2 record and a 1.42 ERA. I don’t care what league you’re playing in. When you have those kind of numbers year in, year out, you have to be considered one of the best. He didn’t get there by mistake either.



Hultzen’s “stuff” has only gotten better over time. He doesn’t have the type of fastball Cole has but he makes up for it with good late movement and sink. Also, like Cole, Hultzen features a slider and a changeup. It might be these secondary pitches that make up the minds of Pirates management as to which pitcher they might take if they decide to go the pitching route. Hultzen’s slider is already major league ready and the changeup is said to be one of the better one’s of the class.



Maybe Hultzen hasn’t pitched in as many big ball games as Cole but I don’t see that as being a huge factor in the decision-making. What I do think will be crucial in deciding to take Hultzen is his command of the inside fastball to right handed hitters. Many young left-handers struggle with getting inside on right-handed hitters. It could ultimately decide his future as a major league pitcher.



Anthony Rendon – 3B, Rice

Rice’s third baseman Anthony Rendon is probably the most talented offensive player in the draft. His ability to hit for average and for power makes him a dual threat in any lineup. In 2010 Rendon batted .394 and hit 26 home runs.

 His numbers are down this season (.322 AVG, 5 home runs), but he’s walked 72 times (seven more times than all of last year) which suggests that he’s been pitched around more this year. It’s encouraging to see a young player who is disciplined at the plate. If Rendon can bring that eye to the majors he should be productive for a long time to come.

The only worry about Rendon is his durability. He has suffered two ankle injuries that have lead to surgery and has battled a sore shoulder in 2011, which has meant him hitting in the DH spot. Before drafting Rendon, I’d like to know how his shoulder is feeling and if he’s capable of playing third base for a long time. If there were still concerns, maybe he would consider moving across the diamond to first base.

Who should the Pirates draft?

If I were making the decisions, I’m drafting Gerrit Cole. He’s got the biggest arm of anyone in the draft and he would give the Pirates something that they haven’t had in a long time: a power pitcher. Just think of it. This guy won’t take as long to get MLB ready as Jameson Taillon or Stetson Allie. Both of those guys are still green. Cole has pitched on the biggest stage in college baseball and likes getting the ball in those spots.

Wouldn’t you enjoy watching this guy dominate National League lineups start after start? I think he’s got that capability. With three major league ready pitches, we could see him sometime next season! No disrespect to Hultzen or Rendon, who are both fine ballplayers, but a big guy like Cole is just what the Pirates need. If they’re going to be competing for division titles and pennants anytime soon, it’s going to have to start with the pitching and what better way than to start it with Gerrit Cole.

 

written by Shane McFarland