MLB Draft: How Pirates’ Approach Landed Four Top 50 Players Including Penn State, Clemson Football Pledges

When the Pittsburgh Pirates used the No.1 pick in the 2021 Major League Baseball Draft against Louisville wide receiver Henry Davis, it was apparently with strategy in mind. The Pirates, he reasoned, chose Davis because his financial demands were the fewest among the handful of defensible No. 1 candidates. Whether this turns out to be true or not is to be seen. The Pirates ‘draft strategy since Davis’ Choice suggests that this is the case, however, and that they are all in the portfolio approach.

The Pirates have selected three notable preparation players to kick off the second day of the draft: left-hander Anthony Solometo (taken with the 37th pick), outfielder Lonnie White Jr. (64th) and right-hander Bubba Chandler (72nd). If the Pirates can sign those three in addition to Davis – and the teams are reluctant to sign people they don’t think they can sign – then they will leave this draft with at least four of the top 50. outlook in class, based on CBS Sports pre-draft rankings. That’s a feat considering the Pirates only had two of the top 50 picks in the draft.

What exactly are hackers getting?

• CBS Sports ranked Solometo 23rd, noting that he is “a polished southpaw who throws strikes with a fastball that can hit the mid-90s and a good slider.”
• Chandler ranked No. 30 despite his cruelty and commitment to playing baseball and football at Clemson. He reportedly intends to sign with the Buccos.
• And then there was White, at No.39, who also has a football purse on the Penn State table, as well as a good toolbase that includes above-average attacking potential.

The Pirates probably wouldn’t have been able to get the same goal if they had taken Jack Leiter or Jordan Lawlar at No.1. It probably would have also been the case with Marcelo Mayer, the top player on the CBS Sports board.

Of course, classes tend to look better on draft day than they do later. The portfolio approach has paid off in the past for other teams, however. The most famous example came in 2012, when the Houston Astros picked the Carlos Correa No.1 shortstop. later traded to secure Evan Gattis).

The Pirates can only hope their bet works out so well.