On MLB Network last night, draft expert Jim Callis said the Pirates had his favorite draft of any team, taking LSU pitcher Paul Skenes with the top overall selection, Michigan State shortstop Mitch Jebb in the second round, and Belleville, Illinois high school pitcher Xander Mueth with the supplemental pick between the second and third rounds.
Paul Skenes is a 6-6 right-hander who averaged about 98 miles per hour on his fastball this season for the national champions, and routinely topped 100 miles per hour. His slider is his second best pitch, averaging 85 to 89 miles per hour, and is described by MLB.com as “a beast”. He also has a bit of Shohei Otahni in him. Before transferring from Air Force, he was a catcher, too, and won the John Olerud Award as the nation’s best two-way player. He hit .410 his freshman year and .314 with 13 home runs and 38 RBIs as a sophomore.
Jebb dealt with a wrist injury in his senior season at Michigan State yet still hit .337. He’s projected to play third base or possibly second when he eventually makes it to the majors.
Like Skenes, Mueth is 6-6, but while Skenes weighs 250 pounds, Mueth weighs only 190. His fastball sits between 92 and 94 miles per hour and has touched 97 and he has a highly rated slider and changeup.
The second pick in the draft was LSU outfielder Dylan Crews, by Washington. Franklin, Indiana high school outfielder Max Clark then went to Detroit, followed by Florida outfielder Wyatt Langford to the Rangers and high school outfielder Walker Jenkins to the Twins, and the sixth overall selection was shortstop Jacob Wilson, the son of former Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson.
The Pirates snapped their four game losing streak with a win over the Diamondbacks yesterday and hit the All-Star break with a record of 41-49, eight-and-a-half games behind the first place Reds in the National League Central. Greg Brown recaps the win.
Manager Derek Shelton liked the gritty win by the Bucs.
Shelton says Ji Man Choi’s return to the Pirates after missing almost three months with an Achilles injury is a big addition to the lineup.
First baseman Carolos Santana has been a force at the plate in recent weeks, but he’s been steady with the glove all season long, and Shelton says that’s a valuable asset for the Bucs.
After yesterday’s game, Shelton and pitchers Mitch Keller and David Bednar flew to Seattle for the All-Star game while the rest of the Pirates scattered to their homes or vacation sites. They will next play on Friday when they open a three-game home series against the Giants.
