The 2020 Major League Baseball amateur draft is in the books. Here are all of the Pirates' six picks, plus the stories DK Pittsburgh Sports has already run on them.
FIRST ROUND: SS NICK GONZALES, NEW MEXICO STATE
Gonzales would end up being the only position player the Pirates would take this year, but they made that pick count. He was considered the fifth best draft prospect by Baseball America and MLBPipeline, and he went from a walk-on at New Mexico to one of the most dangerous collegiate hitters in this year's draft.
Top pick Gonzales' 'just super-incredible' rise
Friday insider: Pedroia? Boggs? J-Hay? Gonzales' old coach sees similarities
COMPETITIVE BALANCE A PICK: RHP CARMEN MLODZINSKI, SOUTH CAROLINA
Mlodzkinski's college stats may not be too impressive, partially because his freshman season was the only one where he played all year. Instead, look to what he did in the Cape Cod league, where he was terrific. That helped elevate him to his first-round status. As Hunter Homistek would write, he's also a fierce, but quirky, dude.
Mlodzinski happily flying under radar ... for now
SECOND ROUND: RHP JARED JONES, LA MIRADA HS, Calif.
Jones is the only prep pitcher the Pirates would take, and he will probably be the most difficult to sign. At just 18, he already has a mid-90s fastball and two breaking pitches that get more spin than most Major-League pitchers. The catch is he's raw. He's currently committed to play his college ball in Texas, and if he decides to go to school instead, he may end up being a first-round pick three years from now.
How Pirates can sign all six picks
THIRD ROUND: RHP NICK GARCIA, CHAPMAN
There are people who believe Garcia would have been a first-round pick had he gone to a power-five school rather than division-III Chapman. Despite playing for a small school, the right-hander was still firmly in the middle of most experts' top-100 prospects, so grabbing him in the third round could be a steal for the Pirates.
FOURTH ROUND: RHP JACK HARTMAN, APPALACHIAN STATE
It's clear that by picking a senior relief pitcher in the fourth round that the Pirates are hoping to save a little money on this pick to give to their other players. That doesn't mean Hartman is a throwaway though. His fastball has terrific velocity and spin, and his slider could potentially be a plus pitch. He started his collegiate career as a position player, so there may be room for him to grow into a Major-League reliever.
FIFTH ROUND: RHP LOGAN HOFFMANN, NORTHWESTERN STATE
Like Gonzales and Mlodzinski, Hofmann was a Cape Cod All-Star. He also blew batters away in the abbreviated 2020 season, striking out 38 while walking only five across 28 scoreless innings. At 5'10", he's a bit on the short side for a pitcher, and his fastball sits in the low 90s. Still, his curveball has 12-to-6 break and has been outstanding from a results standpoint.
To continue reading, log into your account:
