With only 17 days left until the first day of the 2019 MLB amateur draft, Jim Callis from MLB Pipeline took a shot at predicting the first round picks. He has the Pittsburgh Pirates selecting prep right-handed pitcher Quinn Priester with the 18th overall pick.
Priester is someone we covered here after Pipeline linked him with the Pirates two weeks ago. That link has a scouting report and video. The 18-year-old from Cary-Grove HS has a four-seam fastball that gets up to 96 MPH, sitting in the low-90s, with excellent control. His also has a two-seam fastball with plenty of sinking action and movement. His curveball sits in the high-70s and has a chance to be a plus pitch. He gets praise for his easy delivery and repeatable mechanics.
Yesterday we noted that the Pirates have interest in high school shortstop Gunnar Henderson. Callis has him going 14th overall to the Philadelphia Phillies in today’s mock draft. In the Fangraphs article in that link, they noted that the Pirates have interest in Priester, so it’s not only a pick we have heard in the past, it’s also someone who has gained their interest.
That link in the second paragraph has some great videos for Priester, but here’s a brand new one from Perfect Game Baseball