Seeking an under slot prospect with the No. 1 selection, the Pittsburgh Pirates brass kept many executives and insiders around the league guessing on what direction they were going with the No. 1 overall pick.
The direction many saw them going was the high school shortstop route with left handed hitting shortstop Marcel Mayer widely viewed as the likely pick, a prospect many draft pundits have called a future superstar, with Jordan Lawlar a close second.
Instead the tight lipped Pirates surprised at No. 1 in selection catcher Henry Davis out of Louisville. Regarded by many as the best college hitter in the draft, Davis slashed a line of .370/.482/.663 with 15 home runs and led the ACC with a .486 on-base percentage.
It was no secret the Pirates planned to go under slot at No. 1. They made it known with leaks weeks ago to get that out of in the opening in getting ahead of themselves as to why top college pitcher Jack Leiter who went No. 2, was not a consideration at No. 2.
The Pirates brass have done well in getting most of the local media to buy into what they’re selling.
Still, this isn’t some Bryan Bullington type pick where the Pirates completely reached at No. 1 for money reasons on someone who had zero reason to even be considered at No. 1.
While the Pirates surely shied away from taking the most upside prospect at No. 1 and criticism for that is warranted, Davis still came into this draft as a top-5 regarded prospect by many. And Henry lines up with the window of being able to put what the Pirates feel will be a respectable team on the field by 2023 or 2024.
“He checks a lot of boxes,” Pirates GM Ben Cherington said.
Henry becomes the Pirates highest selection of a catcher since they took Tony Sanchez 4th overall in 2009, a prospect who was widely considered a major reach at the time, a selection that was money driven during a time there was not a bonus draft pool system in place.
For this franchise, you have hit big when you pick this high, especially at No. 1 and they better hope Henry Davis becomes the next Buster Posey.
However, will Davis actually stay behind the plate?
One potential knock of the selection is there’s not a consensus that Davis will be able to stay at catcher at the MLB level. He has a great arm but needs a lot of work in other areas.
“We did not take him because he was a catcher,” said Cherington. “But, I know one of things he feels strongly about is helping guys around him and certainly the pitchers, so we’re excited about that.”
Cherington raved Sunday night multiple times about the person they are getting in Henry.
And the facts are the draft board for the Pittsburgh Pirates is going to be different than a lot of other teams who have owners that actually strive to put a championship team on the field at some point.
“We took him because was the top player on the board,” said Cherington. “That’s where he was after all of the debate and we are really excited have him with the Pirates.”
Penguins need a goalie this season Jarry and desmith are not the answer
Maybe they should go after Rinne for 1 season lol
mmmhhhhhhhhhh he is a big goalie something we never seem to have. Maybe a 1 year cheap deal bring him in to push Jarry…
I hope they expose Jarry in the expansion draft….
Well Rinne just announced his retirement…
“I can’t fathom a more complete catcher than Henry Davis. He has all the tools needed to become one of the most prolific hitters in baseball history. ”
– Mike Piazza
That is number one bullshlt. Ive heard of Jack Leiter before so he best.
The only thing that matters is the CWS. If you perform well, you jump from the fourth round to first overall. If you do really well, you get put into conversations with all-time greats like Marco Scandella and Sam Bennett.
Ive been to Louisville before and you havent so I would know that Henry Davis is Jeff Carter slow.
All great events, attractions, and oh yeah did really well with the teams they went to! (like I said they would mmhh) LOL
You keep bringing up my Scandella comments like almost 2 years later Francis let it go honey…
I was right and you not me keep bringing it up… LOL
Who do you guys think wins the MLB Rookie of the Year Award next year? My guess is Brock Jones who will still be in college.
Would love him in center field for the Pirates someday soon boy can fly and flat out play.
Tanner Allan right fielder Mississippi State star went to the Marlins…
Brock Jones is a sophomore this year.
I always remember asking myself when talking to Sam, “is he trolling, or just mind-numbingly stupid?” I’m now asking myself this question again. The internet gave voice to the wrong people.
Yep you Moron
You know nothing bro.
Tell me more about Brock Jones and how the Pirates should have taken him 1.1 despite not even being in the draft.
I didn’t say take Jones number one that was Jack Leiter who went number two overall. If the Pirates had a brain he would have gone number one.
I think Brock Jones would have been a good second, third, fourth round pick. I didn’t know he wasn’t in the draft because several Espn Guys said he was..ooppppssss
Guess he is staying in school ??
You probably think the Pirates have a good current on field product too!
Ben Cherington has done an insanely good job at building up this once shlt farm system in less than 2 years. Could be the top one in all of baseball post-trade deadline. Good start to his tenure. Now its time to develop these guys.
Sam that is the thing these guys never seem to develop Ke Bryan Haynes / Reynolds ok
But we needed a homerun at number one overall and then build rounds 2 through 20.
There was no “homerun” at #1 this year.
See that is how dumb and blind you are….Jack Fucking Leiter
He throws 91 to 97, 2 -0 in the college world series with 23 strikeouts in two starts..DOMINATING
He could easily be the Pirates best pitcher right now you moron ! Oh that’s right we have Brubaker and Chad forever bad Kuhl. I’m sorry Sam my bad you are right we should stick with them
From Baseball America:
There’s not a consensus No. 1 player in the class and instead a group of five players are generally seen as the top tier of talent. That group includes toolsy prep shortstops Jordan Lawlar and Marcelo Mayer, renowned Vanderbilt righthanders Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker and Louisville catcher Henry Davis, who was one of the best performers of the season.
He went # 2 overall to the Texas Rangers you moron..
And Henry Davis went #1…
My point exactly. No one thought Henry Davis would go number one overall many believed Jack Leiter would.
I’m not saying the guy sucks but catching isn’t our number one need right now.
Most baseball people were shocked he went that high…everyone went oh what ! You know the trusted people you talk about baseball America..
Most people thought the Bucs were taking Marcelo Mayer, also in the conversation for top player in the draft. Thats what surprised people.
Jack Leiter’s rankings:
MLB Pipeline: 2
Baseball America: 3
FanGraphs: 3
ESPN: 3
And Davis rankings?
Thank you my point… Look i’m not saying Henry Davis sucks he has talent. I agree that he is a solid player. I just think we need more of a sure thing for this years number one overall pick and Leiter is that dude.
Yeah let’s see who has the better major league career…
Hey, something we can agree on!
Imagine spazzing out that the Pirates didnt choose Brock Jones with their #1 pick, and he’s not even in the draft!
Imagine spazzing out that the Pirates didnt choose Tanner Allen with their #1 pick, and he lasted until the middle of the 4th round.
“I cant believe they didnt draft my nephew! He’s literally the best third grade hitting prospect on his team.”
you are just what the problem is bro…
You spazzed about the Pirates not taking an undraftable player #1 overall and Im the problem. Lol
Did you actually watch the college world series and all the amazing players for that two weeks ? We don’t need high school projects or maybes at the number one overall pick..
.mmmhhhh Texas took Jack Leiter number two overall…cmon dude wake up.
Youre spazzing over the Pirates not taking a guy whos not even in the draft at #1 overall. Leiter is no sure thing either. He’s a small dude with durability concerns.
Looking at this article and Cherington saying he was the top player on the board is just such crap. This catcher maybe in the second/third round but we have more important like one outfielder and 0 pitchers.. Yes fat ass, lazy, always injured, over paid, slug that is Gregory Polanco doesn’t count as an outfielder…
Lol the catcher they took was a consensus top 10 player and regarded as the best hitter in the draft. Not sure where you saw second or third round.
So you are happy with him instead of Jack Leiter ? Kumar Rocker? Brock Jones ? Tanner Allan ? Hello ! Yes he was ranked as a top 10 hitter (your right) but so was the college shortstop they Pirates drafted last year and where is he now AA ?
My point is we need someone sooner than later. We needed a impact guy at one then build in the next 19 rounds.
They never care about the current on field product it is always the future since 1994..
Youre not that bright are you Spaz?
And your bright give me a break..
If you honestly think this Louisville catcher was a better number one overall pick than Vanderbilt star pitcher Jack Leiter you are a bigger numb nuts than the people running the Pirates. Ball game bro
You’re*
Whatever bro !
One final though Tbj on this amazing hitting catcher. All the analyst on MLB and ESPN (You know the ones you trust that have this catcher ranked in the top 10 hitters of the draft) also says he has alot of work to do with the catching side of his game and aren’t sure he sticks at catchers…maybe a move to first base..they all said
Did you watch the college world series ???
USC Center fielder Brock Jones is better than any outfielder we have except Reynolds
Mississippi Right fielder Tanner Allan killed it in the college world series is better than that slug Polanco. This guy can hit, run, field and has spark and leadership all things Polanco doesn’t have.
Jack Leiter or Kumar Rocker could easily slide in to the Pirates starting staff. What I’m saying is that catcher isn’t our number one need and the fact you can’t see that well….
Consensus top 5
As a hitter1 All the MLB/ ESPN People say he needs work on the catching side of things. release, framing, calling a game etc.
Some don’t even know if he will stick at catcher.. He has the bat and the body type we will see. Another news flash Catcher wasn’t our number one need.
You dont draft for need in MLB drafts. Thats MLB Draft 101.
With the number one overall pick with a consistent losing franchise you must certainly do! numb nuts. You can accumulate talent in rounds 2 through 20.
Nope. Youre out of your element Donny. Sorry.
Like i said Francis let’s see who gets to the majors first and has a better career.
Jack Leiter or Henry Sammy Davis Jr.
Diego I get it and sometimes you feel that way. When you re born and raised in Pittsburgh (even though I know live in Los Angeles now) you hate to see your home town teams struggle…
Who cares
I like your competitive 10 year idea…
Tampa Bay and Oakland win year after year with a lower payroll than the Pirates because they have people in placemaking solid decisions for the team.
And as soon as he is due a raise they will trade him away for garbage or draft picks. There needs to be a rule implemented in MLB… if you are not competitive after 10 yrs, you must be forced to sell the team. It’s pathetic how lots of teams are run.
I couldn’t agree with you more….well said
The Pirates are like groundhog day the same shit year after year keeps happening.
– a 5 year plan
– a 3 year plan
– we are building for the future
– we are accumulating as much talent as we can.
i haven’t seen who they have picked in the later rounds couldn’t watch anymore.
Missing a damn good draft, Spaz.
The Pirates and their oh let’s accumulate talent is such Bullshit. The need an impact player that can get to the majors sooner than later. Once again they failed ! At least they didn’t take some high school kid who wont see the majors for 5 years… LOL You had Vanderbilt star pitcher Jack f***Leiter sitting right there (who Texas was smart enough to take at number 2) You had Tanner Allan who killed it at the college world series. Mississippi State right fielder who is terrific. You had USC centerfielder Brock Jones (who also killed at the world series)… Read more »
They should absolutely trade Frazier. His value is at an all time high and his having a career year. He’s also a few years older than their core. They are building for 2024. His contract is up before then, anyway.
Agreed.
That is the thing tbj they are always building for the future. His contract is up after this year and he is 29. A short 2 or 3 year deal with a bump keeps our current infield legite… He makes a measly $4.3 million that is nothing. Mike Trout makes $4 million for batting practice.
Invest in your current on field product which is something the Pirates never do !
The sad thing is if you google Nutting he is the 10 richest owner in baseball.
He’s 29 and this is the first year anyone would even give a shlt that he’s traded. He’s having a career year. Sell high.
Which is what the Pirates do over and over trade what good, young affordable talent they do have..and the groundhog day cycle starts again
I suppose you want to trade KeBryan Haynes too !
First time you effed up his name I thought it was a typo. The second time Im just convinced that you think thats his name. It’s Hayes bro. Now are you trolling or just stupid? Come clean.
My bad on the name spelling but you get my point. You will want to deal him next year because the Pirates aren’t ready….they are 2-3 years away.
Henry Davis and Jack fuckLeiter(??) probably make it to the majors around the same time. The other guys you mentioned for #1 is just laughable.
Let’s say that is true! Which t is not but let’s say they do come up at the same time.
what do the Pirates need more right now a # 1 ace pitcher or a catcher ?
Right now it doesnt matter because theyre 2-3 years away.
Again that is the point numb nuts they are always 2-3 years away since 1994.
4 winning seasons since Bonds left….yeah ok you are out of your element. Francis
Making this about money shows you dont know how the MLB draft system works. They have an allotted amount they are able to spend, and they’ll spend it to the fullest like they do every year. We can all agree Nutting sucks but the draft aint why.
This article is numba one bullshlt