The Major league Baseball Draft came to a close yesterday with the final ten rounds, and the Pirates focused on arms again, choosing five more pitchers, along with three infielders and two catchers. Once more, the Bucs looked to the college ranks for most of their choices, with 18 of 21 players selected being college athletes. Fourteen of the Pirates draftees are pitchers. As they did in rounds three through ten, the Bucs did not pay attention to traditional metrics such as ERA or wins and losses, nor did they seem to pay much attention to rankings by various prospect scouting sites. Assistant general manager Steve Sanders said the goal was to “take what the draft gives you.”
After the All-Star break, the Pirates will return to action on Friday, opening a three-game series at PNC Park against the San Francisco Giants. They will be without designated hitter Andrew McCutchen and third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes, who are both on the injured list, McCutchen with a bad elbow and Hayes with continuing inflammation in his back.
MLB
For the first time since 2012, the National League won the All-Star game. Former Pirate Elias Diaz of the Rockies clubbed a two-run home run in the eighth inning to give the NL a 3-2 win. Pirates pitcher Mitch Keller gave up a home run and struck out one in the second inning. Closer David Bednar did not appear in the game.
Comments