2012 Draft

The Pirates 2012 Draft is in the books and it is a pretty good one considering the low talent year.

Obviously getting Mark Appel is a good thing.  Now they still have to sign him, which won't be easy, but as the best or second best pitcher in this draft, you have to be pleased.  His strike out total is low, but he throws upper 90's with a good breaking pitch.  He is major league material even without the K rate one would expect.  

Barrett Barnes was a comp round kind of talent.  Listed as the 21st best position player in the draft, he should sign and a be a good fit.  Ought to be able to stick at Center.  

Picks 2,3,4, and 5 are good picks.  One would hope that they all sign with Mathisen being a very nice prospect who also actually fills a big organizational need if he can learn the catcher position.  I hope he signs soon so he can get into some Rookie league games.

Picks 6-10 are designed to save money.  The three seniors are clearly going to sign.  Stallings is your State College starting catcher.  Eric Wood would be insane not to sign and sign for less than slot because he is not rated anywhere, and will probably never get this high again.  

Not too much more interesting happened except the 14th overall pick.  Walker Buehler is a top 100 kind of prospect who feel because of the new CBA.  It seems as if he is the insurance against Appel.  If Appel will not be reasonable, Buehler will sign for much less, but it will take more than the 100,000 allowable for over 10th round picks.  

Mostly we see that the Pirates took a lot of college seniors and juniors and left the prep guys until the end, and they will not sign many of them because of the inability to give bonus money over 100,000.  The Pirates did go heavy on pitching even from the college ranks.  

I do have to point out Jimmy Rider, 2B, (26th round) who is the all time hits leader at Kent State.  No power, and probably not a prospect, but it should be fun to watch him at State College.  

You can expect State College to have Barnes in Center, Thomas at one of the corner outfield spots, Stallings behind the plate, Crumlich at SS and Diaz playing there and second, Jordan Steranka from Penn State at 3B, Rider at 2B, and a pitching staff that will join Luis Herredia including Sampson, Ludwig, Friend, and Harlan.  There are lots of other pitchers too, so who makes the actual rotation will be interesting.  But Appel is the only real good pitching prospect heading to State College from this draft and his signing will go to the wire.  In fact, if he signs, he may go to West Viriginia because he is ready for it.  Sandfort, who is talented will probably go to Rookie ball as a Prep pitcher or simply not pitch this year at all.