Today is part four of the recent draft classes updates. As I mentioned with the 2016 class yesterday, it’s still very early for these last two groups of draft picks. I’ve tracked the progress of each draft class over the last three years. This will be the first for the 2017 class of course, and we can use it as a guide for their progress over the years.
The Pirates signed a total of 37 draft picks in 2017, which is an extremely high number. Only five players went unsigned and three of them were among the final five picks. Below you will find the players, listed in order of how they were drafted, along with their current progress. The list does not include Tristan Gray, who was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays over the off-season, or Hector Quinones, who retired last week.
Shane Baz – In Extended Spring Training (EST). Reports are strong and he is expected to join West Virginia sometime soon.
Steven Jennings – In EST, was injured over the off-seasons (ribs) and is building up strength an stamina.
Calvin Mitchell – Tearing the cover off of the ball in the West Virginia outfield.
Conner Uselton – In EST playing regularly, could end up playing for a short-season team this year.
Dylan Busby – Starting third baseman for WV, hitting slightly better than his rough debut in Morgantown last year.
Jason Delay – Catcher for Bradenton. Strong defensive catcher who has had a few throwing issues this year and he’s off to a slow start with the bat.
Deon Stafford – Starting catcher for WV. Hitting great, while working on his defense.
Cody Bolton – In EST, where the reports are strong.
Jared Oliva – Off to a slow start at the plate in Bradenton.
Blake Weiman – Pitching well in WV bullpen, should move up to Bradenton by mid-season.
Bligh Madris – Started strong at Bradenton, but is in a 7-for-36 stretch over his last ten games.
Beau Sulser – Despite being a college senior sign in the tenth round, he’s down in EST.
Alex Manasa – In EST, showing continued signs of progress on the mound.
Chris Sharpe – WV outfielder, off to a solid start.
Gavin Wallace – In the WV rotation with mixed results so far.
Hunter Stratton – Just joined the WV bullpen. Has had two very rough appearances so far.
Mason Martin – Starting first baseman for WV, putting up strong power numbers as one of the youngest players in the league
Shea Murray – Injured last year, had elbow surgery and is currently rehabbing at Pirate City.
Jacob Webb – Same as Shea Murray
Will Reed – Almost the same as the last two guys, just didn’t have surgery.
Robbie Glendinning – In EST
Brett Pope – In EST
Ben Bengtson – Backup for WV. Off to a slow start.
Nick Valaika – In EST
Eddie Muhl – In EST
Lucas Tancas – Made the jump to Bradenton. Struggling at the plate so far.
David Lee – In EST
Matt Seelinger – In the WV bullpen after beginning the season in EST.
Manny Bejerano – In EST
Jesse Medrano – In EST
Ryan Valdes – In EST
Mason Ward – In EST
Drew Fischer – In EST
Kyle Watson – Backup infielder for WV, off to a slow start.
Ryan Peurifoy – Backup outfielder for WV, off to a very slow start.
As you can see, a lot of the players are in Extended Spring Training, but that is partially due to the high amount of players they signed. A normal signing class is around 30 players. A few of those players at Pirate City are injured and some are high school signings, so there is no surprise that they aren’t in full-season ball yet. Last year’s draft picks make up nearly half (12) of West Virginia’s current roster and four of them have skipped to Bradenton.
** One minor trade note from yesterday. Outfielder Todd Cunningham was dealt to the Chicago White Sox for a player to be named later. Don’t hold your breath on the return because you may never hear about it. Cunningham was likely dealt as a favor to a veteran free agent, so he could go somewhere and get more playing time. He had played just nine games with Indianapolis this year and was not doing well.
TODAY’S SCHEDULE
Today’s Starter and Notes: The Pittsburgh Pirates won 1-0 on Thursday afternoon over the Detroit Tigers. The Pirates will now take of the St Louis Cardinals for three games, with Steven Brault taking the mound tonight. He allowed two runs over 5.1 innings in his last start, which was in Philadelphia. In his previous start, he gave up five runs over six innings at PNC Park versus the Rockies. The Cardinals will counter with right-handed pitcher Miles Mikolas, who has a 3.46 ERA in 26 innings over four starts, with 20 strikeouts and a 1.00 WHIP. His last two starts were against the Reds and both were seven innings with one run allowed.
The minor league schedule includes Brandon Waddell making his fourth start. He has an 0.79 WHIP, a 1.57 GO/AO ratio, and he’s holding batters to a .175 BAA. Eduardo Vera will start for Bradenton. He has an 0.88 WHIP, with a .214 BAA and just three walks. Braeden Ogle makes his fourth start for West Virginia. In each of his last two outings, he has allowed one earned run over six innings. Ogle struck out eight batters last time out. Austin Coley starts for Indianapolis.
MLB: Pittsburgh (14-11) vs Cardinals (15-9) 7:05 PM
Probable starter: Steven Brault (4.44 ERA, 15:12 SO/BB, 24.1 IP)
AAA: Indianapolis (9-8) @ Columbus (8-10) 7:15 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Austin Coley (10.80 ERA, 3:4 SO/BB, 6.2 IP)
AA: Altoona (9-8) @ Harrisburg (7-11) 7:00 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Brandon Waddell (2.04 ERA, 16:3 SO/BB, 17.2 IP)
High-A: Bradenton (11-9) @ Jupiter (16-4) 6:30 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Eduardo Vera (3.38 ERA, 15:3 SO/BB, 24.0 IP)
Low-A: West Virginia (10-10) @ Lexington (11-8) 7:05 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Braeden Ogle (3.00 ERA, 16:9 SO/BB, 15.0 IP)
HIGHLIGHTS
From Indianapolis on Wednesday, Austin Meadows showing off the range and glove
Good, great, grand, WONDERFUL. pic.twitter.com/uLSOGKSI3h
— Indianapolis Indians (@indyindians) April 25, 2018
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
4/26: Todd Cunningham traded to Chicago White Sox for a player to be named later.
4/25: Rafelin Lorenzo placed on West Virginia disabled list. Raul Hernandez added to roster
4/25: Released Julio Gonzalez from DSL Pirates
4/25: Jose Osuna recalled for Wednesday’s doubleheader.
4/21: Sergio Cubilete placed on disabled list. Hunter Stratton added to West Virginia roster.
4/20: Pablo Reyes promoted to Indianapolis. Brett McKinney assigned to Morgantown.
4/20: Kevin Krause released. Bralin Jackson and Jordan George added to Altoona roster.
4/20: AJ Schugel assigned to Indianapolis on rehab.
4/18: Dylan Prohoroff placed on West Virginia DL. Matt Seelinger added to WV roster.
4/17: Brent Gibbs retired.
4/16: Josh Harrison placed on DL. Dovydas Neverauskas optioned to Indianapolis. Enny Romero and Max Moroff added to Pirates.
4/16: Jesus Liranzo activated from Altoona disabled list. Sam Street assigned to Morgantown.
THIS DATE IN PIRATES HISTORY
One former Pittsburgh Pirates player born on this date, pitcher Paul Miller, who played for the Pirates from 1991 until 1993. He was a member of two playoff teams, though he never pitched in the postseason. Miller was drafted in the 53rd round and was one of the rare players drafted that late to make the majors. He played parts of three seasons, yet only got into a total of ten games. He threw 26.1 innings and had a 4.10 ERA.
On April 27, 1993, the Pirates beat the Braves by a 6-2 score in 11 innings and pitcher Tim Wakefield threw a staggering total of 172 pitches in the game. He pitched into the 11th and needed Paul Wagner to help him close out the game. Here’s the boxscore for that game.
Exactly 100 years earlier, the Pirates opened up their season at home against Cy Young and lost 7-2 in front of a crowd of almost 5,000 fans. You can find descriptions of each game in the link above, along with the 1893 lineup, each of whom has a link to their bio under their name.
102 years ago today, the Pirates and Reds were rained out at Forbes Field, which benefited both teams. The game was set to begin at 3:30 PM and the Reds arrived into town via train at 3:00 PM. The Pirates had multiple injuries and illnesses and were set to play with Otto Knabe, who wasn’t under contract yet, Jimmy Smith, who played just one game up to that point, and possibly a pitcher in the outfield. Roster limits were 21 players at that time, and the Pirates had to release pitcher Harry Moran earlier that day to get down to the limit. Moran never played for the Pirates, though he was around for the first two weeks of the season.
