I wasn’t around for day three of the MLB draft, as I was on my way out of town for my friend’s wedding this weekend. After taking a look at the selections, and doing some research, I was able to find a few tidbits on each player. I will have their player pages up by early next week, with the 2010 Draft Pick Signing Tracker going up on Sunday night (it sounds like some easy signings could be announced on Saturday). Overall I don’t expect many from this group to be signed. If a lot of these guys are signed, it will probably mean that the Pirates didn’t have much luck with the over-slot options in the early rounds.
Here are the draft picks:
31. Jason Townsend, RHP, Alabama
Townsend pitched out of Alabama’s bullpen, making 21 appearances, with two starts mixed in. Townsend had a 6.25 ERA in 36 innings, with a 36:23 K/BB ratio, and a .319 BAA. Townsend is a hard thrower, touching 94 MPH, although his control needs some work. If signed, he will likely be used to fill out the bullpen at the lower levels.
32. Chase Lyles, 3B, Northwestern State
In 220 at-bats with Northwestern State, Lyles hit for a .350/.436/.514 line with seven homers. Lyles showed some speed, stealing 34 bases in 43 attempts. Lyles was a senior, and if signed will likely be used as organizational depth in the lower levels of the minors.
33. Justin Ennis, LHP, LSU-Shreveport
Ennis is the second player drafted out of LSU-Shreveport by the Pirates, joining 18th round pick Chase Wentz. Ennis pitched 94.2 innings in the LSUS rotation this past year, with a 2.85 ERA, and a 92:32 K/BB ratio.
34. Kelson Brown, SS, Linfield College
Brown had a good season at the plate with Linfield, hitting for a .443/.524/.731 line with nine homers in 201 at-bats, and 26 steals in 31 attempts. He also pitched 11.1 innings in relief, with a 14:10 K/BB ratio. A senior at Linfield, Brown will likely be used to fill out the lower levels.
35. Drew Muren, OF, Cal State Northridge
Muren is a draft eligible sophomore. In 2010 he hit for a .290/.388/.396 line with three homers and 13 steals in 207 at-bats. It’s possible that Muren could return to CS Northridge and try to improve his draft stock, especially since his brother, Alex, plays for the same team as a freshman.
36. James Archibald, RHP, McLennan CC
Archibald pitched 27 innings in relief for McLennan, with a 3.00 ERA and a 27:12 K/BB ratio. He throws an 87 MPH fastball, and would likely be a bullpen option in the lower levels if signed.
37. William Allen, C, Buchholz HS
Allen hit for a .470/.571/.916 line in 83 at-bats, with 11 homers. Allen has a commitment to Ole Miss, and according to this article, he will likely honor that commitment, although he did say he will keep the lines open with the Pirates.
38. Alex Cox, RHP, Santiago HS
Cox is from the same high school as 2009 10th round pick Joey Schoenfeld, who the Pirates ended up signing. Cox didn’t play with Schoenfeld, as he was only in JV in his junior year. He’s been a late bloomer, who can touch 90 MPH with his fastball. Cox is 6′ 6″, 225 pounds, so there’s a chance he could add velocity as he continues to learn how to pitch.
39. Kevin Decker, RHP, College of Charleston
Decker had a 3.78 ERA in 81 innings in 2010, with a 67:36 K/BB ratio. Decker’s fastball reaches 93 MPH.
40. Harrison Cooney, RHP, Vero Beach HS
Cooney went 7-1 this past season in 50.2 innings, with 55 strikeouts and a 1.52 ERA. He pitched three one hitters and one no-hitter this year. Cooney currently has no college commitments.
41. Bryton Trepagnier, RHP, East St. John HS
Trepagnier is 6′ 5″, 180 pounds. He has a commitment to play at Bossier Parish Community College after being the ace of the staff at East St. John.
42. Stephen Lumpkins, LHP, American University
Lumpkins is 6′ 8″, 220 pounds, and apart from pitching, he also played basketball for American, averaging 13 points a game, with 8.5 rebounds per game. Lumpkins is an interesting story, as he hadn’t played much baseball since joining American, a university without a baseball program. Because of this, Lumpkins was eligible to be drafted after his sophomore year. This past year he decided to get back in to it, and somehow got on the radar of area scouts.
43. Garrett Hicks, RHP, Yucaipa HS
Hicks has a huge frame, at 6′ 8″, 210 pounds. Hicks touches 90 MPH with his fastball, and has a nasty slider, plus a split finger pitch. Hicks had a 3.43 ERA in 16.1 IP, with a 33:19 K/BB ratio in his senior year. Here is a good article featuring Hicks, and 38th round draft pick Alex Cox.
44. Cory McGinnis, RHP, Shelton State CC
McGinnis, from Pittsburgh, pitched 60.1 innings with Shelton State, with a 4.18 ERA, and a 60:39 K/BB ratio.
45. Connor Sadzeck, RHP, Crystal Lake Central HS
Sadzeck is committed to Oklahoma on a partial scholarship that will pay most of his expenses. Sadzeck is 6′ 5″, 190 pounds, and throws 90 MPH. He had a 3.64 ERA this year, with an 89:26 K/BB ratio in 52.1 innings pitched.
46. Ryan Wiggins, C, West Seattle HS
Wiggins hit for a .452/.507/.871 line in 62 at-bats, with six homers. Chances are Wiggins will be a backup plan to the two catchers selected earlier in the draft.
47. Nathan Sorenson, OF, Texas HS
Sorenson has a commitment to Oklahoma State, where he will not only play baseball, but where he will also play football. Odds are he won’t end up signing.
48. Dillon Haviland, LHP, South Fayette HS
Haviland hit for a .449/.518/.653 line in 49 at-bats, with no homers as a hitter this past year. As a pitcher he was excellent, with an 0.38 ERA in 55 innings pitched, with a 95:17 K/BB ratio. Haviland has a verbal commitment to Duke.
49. Logan Pevny, RHP, West Milford HS
Pevny committed to Farleigh Dickinson University, although recently he found out that the FDU head coach won’t be returning, which leaves him open to signing with the Pirates. Pevny will meet with the Pirates on Saturday, and could very well sign. Pevny had a 4.59 ERA in 32 innings, with 49 strikeouts. Pevny’s fastball regularly reaches the high-80s.
50. Dusty Isaacs, RHP, Lebanon HS
Isaacs played quarterback for his high school, but committed to Georgia Tech to play baseball. Isaacs throws between 92 and 93. There are a lot of prep right handed pitchers in front of him, which combined with the commitment, makes him a hard one to sign.
