BleacherCoaches.com

I have little to no knowledge at all of amateur baseball. I seen the buccos went high prep SS in round 1, college OF/1B/C with the pick from the marlins (round 2), prep RHP in both rounds 2 and 3.

I seen all the players taken by the Pirates were expected to go much later than they were taken.

Does anyone have thoughts? I don't know enough to really evaluate their picks.

Can some explain to me what may be the thought process behind the pre-draft rankings? For instance, are the players rate mainly on their current talent? Because this SS the Pirates got isn't 18 until late July. He was ranked around 70th by scouting services. If he wasn't taken to the late 2nd or early 3rd round he would have considerably less money "slotted" for his pick and probably would have went to Arizona (where he is committed). By the Pirates taking him here he is slotted nearly $2 million for his signing. That is probably enough to lure him away from college. Only being 17 if he spends even 4 full years in the minors he will be with the pirates at 21 or 22. Is the thought here, let's take him and develop him ourselves but be sure we have the rights to him?

It's hard to get excited about the MLB draft when your team finally isn't picking in the top ten.

This year's pick could be another Richie Hebner. Or he could be another Austin Manahan.

It's hard to say because Baseball America's draft board can be totally different than an actual team's draft board. I don't think the Pirates were looking to underslot someone just to be able to sign them, because their recent history has seen them go out and take gambles and spend big, so it definitely wasn't anything like that.

If what I'm reading correctly, the kid is 17 years old. 6'4 with very good speed and has great defensive ability, and he is a switch hitter. It sounds like a lot of upside to me. The two players the Pirates were projected to take in the first round by many outlets didn't go until the 40's, so that says a lot about how mock drafts in baseball go, the draft pool in baseball is so much greater than any other sport, it's all subjective.

knowitall is right in that, if you aren't drafting high, the pick comes down to the team's discretion on who they like. Some are accusing that the Bucs took on position need, but obviously in baseball that's pretty hard to do because it will be years before this kid can play for the Pirates, but the organizational depth on the left side of the infield is bare at a lot of levels, wheres outfield has a number of good prospects, plus a potential 5 year log jam in the majors anyway with Cutch, Marte, and Polanco. So drafting for need isn't always the way to go, and I'm not sure if that was their intention, but adding an infielder doesn't hurt them because the lack of depth there is glaring.

Shortstops can play anywhere. How many high school second basemen get drafted?

I believe one got drafted for the first time ever in the first round last night.

If he was drafted (in the first round) then he obviously has skills and tools. Whether he develops into a major league regular is up to him and the developmental guys. The scouts did their job.

Baseball drafts can't really be measured for a couple years. But in a quick glance, I'm not too impressed. Biggest needs... Lhp, LH bats.... Didn't take either til round 18-20....