Pirates Land Big-Time Prospects in 2018 MLB Draft
GRANVILLE, W. Va.- The future of the Pittsburgh Pirates looks bright after the completion of the 2018 MLB Draft. Headlining this year's draft class for the Pirates is 10th overall pick Travis Swaggerty. The University of South Alabama outfielder was one of the six prospects in attendance at the draft
GRANVILLE, W. Va.- The future of the Pittsburgh Pirates looks bright after the completion of the 2018 MLB Draft.
Headlining this year's draft class for the Pirates is 10th overall pick Travis Swaggerty. The University of South Alabama outfielder was one of the six prospects in attendance at the draft in Secaucus, N.J., and comes to Pittsburgh after posting a .296 batting average with thirteen home runs and 38 RBI's this past season.
GRANVILLE, W. Va.- The future of the Pittsburgh Pirates looks bright after the completion of the 2018 MLB Draft.
Headlining this year's draft class for the Pirates is 10th overall pick Travis Swaggerty. The University of South Alabama outfielder was one of the six prospects in attendance at the draft in Secaucus, N.J., and comes to Pittsburgh after posting a .296 batting average with thirteen home runs and 38 RBI's this past season.
Pirates general manager Neal Huntington called Swaggerty a multi-tooled prospect with one of the best bats in this year's draft. He's the Pirates first top 10 overall pick since Austin Meadows was selected ninth in 2013.
In the first compensation round, the Pirates selected right-handed pitcher Gunnar Hoglund from Fivay High School in Hudson, Fla. The 36th overall selection had a 7-0 record during his senior year, boasting a 0.27 ERA with 105 strikeouts and only two walks.
Wrapping up the first day of the MLB Draft, Pittsburgh selected pitcher Braxton Ashcraft in the second round with the 51st overall selection. A highly touted baseball prospect, Ashcraft also stood out on the gridiron at Robinson High School in Texas. The righty finished his junior season with 37 touchdowns and 2090 receiving yards before dropping football his senior year to focus on his work on the mound.
The Pirates continued bringing in big names on the second day of the MLB Draft, featuring third round pick Connor Kaiser. The Vanderbilt shortstop is hitting .298 this season, and on June 3 he crushed three homeruns and an NCAA Tournament record-tying 10 RBI's in a game against Clemson. The performance helped Kaiser earn recognition as the 2018 NCAA Clemson Regional Most Valuable Player.
In the fourth round, Pittsburgh drafted another right-handed pitcher in Cal-Berkley hurler Aaron Shortridge. The 2018 PAC-12 All-Conference Honorable Mention went 5-3 on the season with a 2.77 ERA to go with 74 strikeouts.
Among other interesting draft picks from the later rounds was Delaware infielder Nick Patten. The 28th round selection was a first-team All-Colonial Athletic Association honoree, and before graduating high school at IMG Academy began his high school career at Butler High School, located just north of Pittsburgh.
In total, the Pirates selected 31 players out of college and 9 out of high school. The team has yet to announce where the draftees will play during the 2018 season.
The complete list of Pittsburgh Pirates selections from the 2018 MLB Draft is posted below.
Rd. 1- OF Travis Swaggerty (University of South Alabama)
Comp Rd. A- RHP Gunnar Hoglund (Fivay High School, FL)
Rd. 2- RHP Braxton Ashcraft (Robinson High School, TX)
Rd. 3- INF Connor Kaiser (Vanderbilt University)
Rd. 4- HRP Aaron Shortridge (Univ. California-Berkley)
Rd. 5- C Grant Koch (University of Arkansas)
Rd. 6- RHP Michael Flynn (University of Arizona)
Rd. 7- OF Brett Kinneman (North Carolina State University)
Rd. 8- LHP Zach Spears (Miami University of Ohio)
Rd. 9- RHP Logan Stoelke (University of Louisiana-Lafayette)
Rd. 10- INF Mike Gretler (Oregon State University)
Rd. 11- RHP Michael Burrows (Waterford High School, CT)
Rd. 12- C Zac Susi (University of Connecticut)
Rd. 13- INF Zack Kone (Duke University)
Rd. 14- OF Daniel Amaral (UCLA)
Rd. 15- OF Jonah Davis (Univ. California-Berkley)
Rd. 16- RHP Colin Selby (Randolph-Macon College)
Rd. 17- RHP Brad Case (Rollins College)
Rd. 18- RHP Michael LoPresti (St. John's University)
Rd. 19- RHP Will Kobos (George Washington University)
Rd. 20- RHP Conner Loeprich (St. Mary's College)
Rd. 21- RHP Will Gardner (Carson-Newman College)
Rd. 22- OF Jason Brandow (Vintage High School, CA)
Rd. 23- INF Tyler Miller (Spanish Fort High School, AL)
Rd. 24- LHP Cam Alldred (University of Cincinnati)
Rd. 25- OF Luke Mangieri (Bradley University)
Rd. 26- INF Ethan Paul (Vanderbilt University)
Rd. 27- C Ryan Haug (University of Arizona)
Rd. 28- INF Nick Patten (University of Delaware)
Rd. 29- OF Giovanni DiGiacomo (Canterbury School, FL)
Rd. 30- OF Jack Herman (Eastern High School, NJ)
Rd. 31- INF Chase Lambert (Pepperdine University)
Rd. 32- INF Dean Lockery (Central Connecticut State University)
Rd. 33- LHP Joe Jacques (Manhattan College)
Rd. 34- INF Davis Sharpe (Mill Creek High School, GA)
Rd. 35- INF Justin Harrer (Washington State University)
Rd. 36- OF Emanuel Andrews (Long Beach Poly High School, CA)
Rd. 37- OF Larvoisier Fisher (North Gwinnet High School, GA)
Rd. 38- C Brendt Citta (University of Kansas)
Rd. 39- RHP Cody Smith (Charleston Southern University)
Rd. 40- RHP Jake Mielock (Colorado Mesa University)