Now that the Pirates have made Jameson Taillon the second overall pick in the MLB draft, it is time to look forward to round two. Several interesting players will be available when the Bucs make their selection a little after noon.
Here are a few options, all of which would be fine by me:
Prep pitcher Stetson Allie is the sexiest player still available. His pure stuff is second only to Taillon in the draft, although Allie’s command and consistency does not compare with that of Taillon. He has an explosive fastball with velocity in the upper nineties, along with an above average slider. Due to a tendency to falter after a few innings, some scouts feel he would be better suited as a reliever. The sky is the limit for Allie, but his floor is awfully low. Neal Huntington may opt for a safer pick here, due to the risk already involved with Taillon. Allie would require fairly significant money to sign.
Austin Wilson is a toolsy high school outfielder with a commitment to Stanford. He has plus raw power, a strong arm and decent speed. He is raw at this point, particularly when it comes to plate discipline. Wilson will take a hefty bonus to lure him from Stanford, one that may be too costly for his talent level.
A.J. Cole is another high school pitcher that fell out of the first round. His fastball sits around 90 MPH and his tall, lanky frame indicates the potential for further development. His control is much better than Allie’s. Cole is committed to Miami and will likely require first round money to sign.
Yordy Cabrera is a high school shortstop from Florida who will also require a big bonus. He has good raw power, but he will likely move from shortstop down the road. Cabrera is already 19, old for a high school player. For some reason, I think I like Cabrera best of these options.
Here are some additional players who will be available for the Pirates in the second round.
