Aside from Pirates first-round pick Seth Hernandez and the others who were drafted on night one of the MLB Draft, a lot of fans probably don’t know much about the Day 2 picks (except maybe Jared Jones, first baseman from LSU, who was selected in the 9th round). Ben Cherington focused on acquiring some college bats this year, and since the Pirates continue to struggle, let’s take a look at two later-round picks that could impress in the minor leagues and make an impact on the big league club in the future.
Brent Iredale, 3B, Arkansas - Round 7 Pick 203
The Australian native, standing 6’3” and 200 pounds, earned an early Day 2 selection despite only one year of Division I baseball. Iredale, a 2016 Little League World Series player for Team Australia, transferred to Arkansas this year from the New Mexico Junior College Thunderbirds, where he slashed .437/.543/.925 with 42 home runs in 113 career games. Iredale had a relatively smooth transition to a big jump in SEC pitching this year for the Razorbacks, who made it to the College World Series semifinal. He slashed .286/.544/.994 with a .450 on-base percentage and 14 homers in 65 games.
Iredale just turned 22 on July 12, and the fact that he’s a college-aged prospect who’s seen only one year of elite-level pitching is concerning. But he’s passed all of the tests at the plate to become a pro player. The swing looks high level; he makes a lot of contact and continues to showcase power potential. Iredale certainly has the frame and range of a third baseman, but his arm strength is average.
Eddie King Jr., OF, Louisville - Round 16 Pick 473
King is well-built and raked for power and average in his final two years at Louisville. This past year was his best, slashing .367/.750/1.185 and hitting a career high 17 home runs in 55 games. He played a lot of center field in 2023 and 2024, but only played corner outfield this year. It can be assumed that’s where he’ll stay in the pros.
His swing doesn’t look as polished as you would hope for a 3-year college player, but he is a great value pick in the 16th round, considering his substantial numbers and power potential. King is a Chicago native and the 31st player to be drafted from the White Sox Amateur City Elite youth program, which has only been around since 2007. King has one more year of college eligibility left, but it seems he is adamant about going pro now.
The Pirates need to be better at developing more guys like King (and Iredale) to sustain their power and be productive at the major league level. Year in and year out, the lack of consistent power in the lineup is a significant issue, not to mention the scarcity of homegrown good hitters in general.
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