Pirates General manager Ben Cherington was dealing Thursday in the Rule 5 draft, picking a pitcher from the Angels with the top overall choice, and then making a trade with the Mets to bring another pitcher, who was plucked from the Cleveland Indians organization. By rule both of the young prospects must spend the entire 2021 season with the Pirates’ big league club or be offered back to their original teams. Each of the players selected will cost the Bucs $100,000.
Right-handed pitcher Jose Soriano was taken first overall from the Angels. He is 22 and from the Dominican Republic. He was the Angels’ 13th-ranked prospect, with a 96-mph swing-and-miss fastball that can touch triple digits and a curveball rated above average. He had Tommy John surgery in February and missed all of last season. In four minor league seasons, Soriano is 11-20 with a 2.76 ERA
Cherington traded the option of a player to be named later or cash to the Mets for the 10th selection and took 21-year-old Cleveland right-handed prospect Luis Oviedo, who has five seasons in the minors with a 17-18 record and an ERA of 4.66.
Cherington also stocked up on prospects in the minor league portion of the Rule 5 draft, taking right-handed relief pitcher Shea Spitzbarth from the Dodgers in the first round, infielder Claudio Finol from the Reds in the second, and right-handed pitcher Jeffrey Passantino from the Cubs in the third.
The Pirates lost right-hander Samuel Reyes to the Cubs in the second round of the minor league draft.
Cherington also continues to reshape the baseball operations side of the organization. The Pirates have hired Dallas Baptist University pitching coach Josh Hopper as their pitching development coordinator, former Milwaukee Brewers assistant trainer athletic trainer Rafael Freitas as head athletic trainer, ex-Oakland assistant Terence Brannic as head strength and conditioning coach, and former Giants strength and conditioning coach Adam Vish as a strength and conditioning staff member. He’s a Pitt graduate.
Seth Steinhauer is the team’s new physical therapist; A.J. Patrick is the new director of sports performance.
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