Giolito’s injury also indirectly affects the Pirates. If he opts to attend college in order to improve his draft standing, which his injury may have harmed, his decision will remove a top player from the draft pool, thus reducing the number of impact players available in this draft. That won’t help the Pirates at all given their draft slot.

Minor League Baseball had Carlos Correa falling to the Pirates in a recent mock draft. As things now stand, the Pirates would do well if they were to take Correa with the eighth pick. But they might miss that opportunity if Giolito falls out of the first round due to injury and signability questions.