The Pittsburgh Pirates have plenty of holes to fill. Just about anything other than starting rotation could be classified as an immediate need. However, one of the biggest needs is more bats for an anemic
offense, and the team addresses that in the latest MLB Pipeline MLB mock draft.
While the real MLB Draft Lottery won’t happen until this winter, Pipeline has the Bucs picking third overall for their purposes, and the Bucs end up selecting Alabama shortstop Justin Lebron. With Oneil Cruz in the outfield now and Isiah Kiner-Falefa placed on waivers, Nick Gonzales is at the top of your depth chart at short, with Jared Triolo and Cam Devaney second and third, respectively. However, Konnor Griffin, who is the top prospect in baseball right now, also plays short. He’s just 19 years old, with Lebron actually already 20.
Lebron, should he be selected, would hopefully give the Pirates some additional pop from the infield. He finished SEC play this year with a .316 average, 18 homers, 72 RBIs, 17 stolen bases, and 1.058 OPS with the Crimson Tide.
The 6’2” righty is also listed as a centerfielder, however, he sees most of his time at short. In fact, the top four players in the Pipeline mock are all shortstops. They have Roch Chowloski of UCLA going first overall, Grady Emerson, a high schooler from Argyle, Texas going second, Lebron going third, and Jacob Lombard from Gulliver Prep in Miami going fourth.
The first non-shortstop is Gio Rojas, a left-handed pitcher from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, and there’s another shortstop in the top 10, with Tyler Spangler from De La Salle High School in Concord, California slotted at number eight to the St. Louis Cardinals.
So what would you think if the Buccos nab Lebron here? Short isn’t quite a top position of need, but any bats in the system are sure to help. Tell us in the comments if you like the pick or if you’d prefer someone else.
