PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Pirates closed the MLB Draft with 10 picks on Tuesday. Six of them are pitchers with three shortstops and an outfielder. Only three are high school players. Here is a look at each pick.
11th round
Jack Carey, RHP, 6’, 205 lbs, Duke
-during the season elevated as Duke’s Friday’s night starter, 4-3, 5.24 ERA. Led Duke in quality starts. In May 2021, 2-0, 2.33 ERA, 27-IP, 29-K, 3-BB. Struck out 7 batters in 3.2 innings vs. Pitt on March 7.
12th round
Chazz Martinez, LHP, 6’3”, 210 lbs, Orange Coast College (CA)
-started 7 games, 38 innings, 3-1 with 2 complete games striking out 44 with 21 walks. Allowed only 3 homers with a 4.50 ERA. He also led the Orange Empire Conference with 6 HR, had 14 hits and drove in 15 runs.
13th round
Owen Sharts, RHP, 6’2”, 190 lbs., Nevada
-2-1 with an ERA of 5.21 ERA, 35 strikeouts before the season ended with an undisclosed injury. Mountain West Pitcher of the Week March 1 beating UNLV throwing 6 innings, 1 run, 2 hits and 7 strikeouts. Known for his 12-6 curveball, fastball up to 95-96mph.
14th round
Braylon Bishop, OF, left-hand hitter, 6’2”, 193 lbs., Arkansas HS
-committed to baseball power Arkansas, athletic and Perfect Game reports he has good range in center field and consistently squares balls up at the plate with quick hands. Signability will be an issue ranked as the 94th best prospect overall by MLB Pipeline.
15th round
Tyler Samaniego, LHP, 6’4”, 205 lbs., University of South Alabama
-left handed reliever who pitched in 19 games, 17.2 innings, 4.08 ERA, 9 walks to 27 strikeouts, allowed 11 hits (4 extra bases)
16th round
Daniel Corona, SS, left-hand hitter, 6’2”, 193 lbs., The Baylor Schools (HS-TN)
-committed to play baseball at Wake Forest. The Perfect Game said he has an athletic build with good length and room to grow strength. Good arm strength, hits to the middle, but can turn and drive it
17th round
Carlos Lomeli, RHP, 6’2”, 195 lbs., St. Mary’s College (CA)
-started 11 of the 16 games he appeared in 2021 going 5-6 with a 4.21 ERA, 72.2 innings, 66 strikeouts, 20 walks. In his final game, threw complete game vs.
Santa Clara giving up 2 runs, 3 walks and struck out 5.
18th round
AJ Graham, SS, right-hand hitter, 6’3”, 180 lbs., Gaither HS (FL)
-hit .346 with a .414 OBP during his senior year with 14 RBI in 23 games.
19th round
Drew Irvine, RHP, 6’3”, 180 bs., Iowa
-Iowa’s Saturday starter going 2-5, 6.43 ERA over 49 innings, 49 strikeouts, 31 walks. Had a pair of 7 inning starts against Minnesota and Rutgers in April, giving up a total of 2 runs and struck out 11 in those outings.
20th round
Brenden Dixon, SS, right-hand hitter, 6’1”, 205 lbs., Weatherford College (TX)
-hit .335 this season in 53 games with 10 home runs, 39 RBI, 56 runs scored. Had a .495 on-base percentage after 47 walks to 36 strikeouts.