Ben Cherington is a man of his word.
When he joined The PM Team a week before the draft, he said the following.
"It's also very clear we need to get the most possible talent we can get out of the entire draft this year."
Cherington then went out and drafted 4 of the top 32 players in the draft according to Baseball America. I'd says that's a heck of a job in getting the most talent possible.
The Henry Davis signing isn't the sexy name, but it's a very good pick that checks a ton of boxes for the Pirates, but the importance of that pick is what it allowed Cherington to do after it.
Because Davis is in his third year at Louisville, it's unlikely he'd forego turning pro to go back to college, which means he's sign a deal under slot, allowing the Pirates to take the money they saved and throw it at the next three picks they made.
As for those picks, here's what I like about each of them:
2nd Round - Anthony Solometo, a high school starting pitcher - He has a funky delivery, but he's getting compared to Madison Bumgarner and Blake Snell. if he's anywhere close to either of those guys, this is a major steal.
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Competitive Round B - Lonnie White Junior, a high school outfielder - He's one of the best high school bats in the draft. He's committed to Penn State to play football and baseball, so you know he's a heck of an athlete. He has a ton of raw potential as he has rarely been able to focus on just playing baseball.
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3rd Round - Bubba Chandler, a high school starting pitcher/ short stop - He's committed to Clemson to play baseball and football as a quarterback. This may be the most exciting pick of the draft. Some scouting services had Bubba as high as the 9th best prospect in this draft and the Pirates got him with the 72nd overall pick. This is the exact type of pick Cherington was referencing when he talked about adding the most talent possible. Chandler will cost the Pirates WAY above slot to sign, and that's why most teams passed on him, but the Pirates had the most money to spend in this draft and because of that, have the best chance to sign him.
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Bottom line, if the Pirates get all 4 of these players signed and in their system, then Ben Cherington just had a monster draft class that nobody in baseball will come close to this year.