Well another draft for Pirate GM Peter is in the books and the outlook for this class is quite positive. The team held ten draft picks this year, an all time low under Peter with the Pirates. The Pirates are thrilled with their incoming draftees and look to welcome them all to their rookie ball affiliate in short time.
6th Overall Selection - SP Jeff Vail (Clemson) The Pirates consider Vail to be the best prospect in the draft at any position and were thrilled to see him fall to the 6th spot. The Pirates traded up to the 6th spot to ensure they got one of the players they were targeting. Vail has plus control and impressive polish for a player of his age. Vail just turned 20 years old and the Pirates view him as a future number 1 or number 2 starter
38th Overall Selection - LF Paul Poisal (Lamar) Poisal put up very impressive numbers through high school and at Lamar and those numbers propelled him to a high amateur selection. Poisal's glove is his best attribute and scouts say that his bat is raw at this stage and are unsure of what contact or power he may develop. His track record is good and the Pirates hope that some of those numbers will turn into improvement for Pail.
44th Overall Selection - RP Will Coldiron (Logan, IA) Coldiron shows outstanding polish for a high school pitcher and is extremely impressive for his age. He places his pitches where he wants them and has good stuff as well. His high school stats were out of this world and the Pirates are very excited that Coldiron fell to them in this draft position.
68th Overall Selection - P Rich Thompson (Cal State Fullerton) The Pirates have admitted that they are not sure if his future is as a starter or as a reliever but scouts say that he has plus control and plus power on his pitches. The Pirates are excited about the rare combination or control and power this late in the draft and whatever role he plays in the future, confidence is high that he can be successful.
98th Overall Selection - SS Shuja Nakamura (Tokyo, Japan) Nakamura is comparable to the typical Japanese player that makes good contact but with not much power. He has solid speed and a solid eye for the strike zone. He is nothing special in the field and will likely develop into an average fielder at SS or 2nd base. Another high school player selected by the Pirates which is unusual compared to the last two drafts by the Pirates front office. The Pirates are known to take more college players but were obviously impressed by a number of high school players.
104th Overall Selection - RF Trent Olenhouse (Joliet, IL) Yet another high school player and Trent is very young at the age of 17. He is young but is projectable to have plus contact and be a plus fielder. His speed and eye are also not bad for his age but there are no guarantees that those areas will progress significantly. Olenhouse is obviously a long term project but the front office is confident that the wait will be worth it.
128th Overall Selection - 2B Joe Williams (Central Florida) One of the more surprising picks for the Pirates in this draft. The Pirates have a couple of solid 2B's in their system and at similar stages of their careers so this looks like merely a situation of picking the best player on the board. Williams is a switch hitting contact oriented second baseman and he should at least be a solid MLB backup.
134th Overall Selection - 3B Darren Murphy (Alabama) The selection of the sliding Murphy was finally ended in the 5th round by the Pirates. He was projected as a late 3rd or 4th round selection and although he is very raw and needs serious work in the minors, he is in the right situation with the Pirates.
158th Overall Selection- RF Robin Newton (Texas Tech) Another southern player head North to Pittsburgh. Although right field was not a area of strong need and other draftees at right field, the Pirates felt obligated to draft the most projectable player on the board in hopes that he can develop into a solid player for somemajor league team.
164th Overall Selection - RP Zack Ellington (Texas A+M) His skills are not impressive or polished as of today and probably won't be but the Pirates felt he was interesting enough to draft him because he has a decent array of pitches and projectable control of his pitches
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