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Pretty exciting news from tonight's draft, the Pirates landed the consensus number one pitcher in the draft, Stanford's Mark Appel with the 8th overall pick. I can't believe Appel fell that far, but I'll take it. I guess with the new draft slotting it made it possible for someone that talented to fall to 8.

How scary does Tallion, Cole, and Appel sound?

Sounds good. Bucs went out and got the best player available. The thought of drafting a position player sounds nice, but people don't understand that the hitter won't be able to help the team for 3-4 years. Why not take the best player available? That rotation can be scary good, and Luis Heredia is a wild card in that as well. Think if he actually pans out? That is 4 right handed starters standing 6-4ish throwing 95 MPH fast Balls all under the age of 21, and could realistically see three of them by 2015.Maybe 2014.


The Pirates aren't done tonight as the compensation round will take place tonight. The Bucs hold the 45th pick, maybe sneak in a college bat to the mix.

thats the only problem all right handers love to see a power lefty in there i liked brian johnson from florida but hes off the board......dont forget james mcdonald could be in that mix as well

I'd fully expect JMac to still be around. Max Fried actually wouldn't have been a bad pick. Had Appel went in the first 7 picks, Fried may be a Pirate.

The Pirates tried to draft him over Alvarez in 2009 but Appel wanted to go to college. The Pirates only have 3.2 million available to sign their first 10 picks or they will face penalties from the MLB. May be really tough to get him signed.

It won't be easy, but Pirates have some leverage. There is no guarantee Appel will be a top 10 pick again, no guarantee that if he goes on to play Independent ball that it will work out for himself. Here it is, you are a top 10 pick. You are going to get top 10 money. Pirates have that argument going for them. Neal isn't afraid of Boras, I bet the kid signs. And if he doesn't The Bucs get the #9 pick next year on top of their regularly scheduled pick. Its a win-win. Nobody can complain the Pirates didn't take the best player available, and they get likely 2 top 20 picks next season.

They haven't exactly developed much first round talent from Huntingdons drafts once they get to the majors well see how Cole and Taillon are once they get there.

Cole and Taillon are pitching very well currently. They could be in Altoona by season's end.

I know that Pedro did well through minors too then big leagues done Tony Sanchez when I read about him sounds like hes great defensively but offense is shaky