Bucs Sign Three Picks

by Charlie Wilmoth on Jun 10, 2008 12:36 AM EDT

The Pirates have signed three picks from last week's draft: 11th-rounder David Rubinstein, 35th-rounder Tyler Cox and 36th-rounder Kyle Morgan. Cox, a pitcher, and Morgan, and outfielder, are college seniors and should be organizational-type players, so their bonuses were probably quite small. Rubinstein, an outfielder from Appalachian State, could be a prospect -- he was a third-team preseason All-American this year, and he only recently turned 21. He'll presumably start out at State College.

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From what I've read...

...both of the West Point seniors, Simmons and White, are planning on signing. Link.

As senior signs go, White is pretty interesting.

by Vlad on Jun 10, 2008 11:44 AM EDT reply actions

Funny that Simmons was drafted ahead of White

Not that it means all that much in round 40+. Judging from their comments, though, White must have been scouted some because he expected to be drafted, while Simmons didn’t.

I’m very impatient for the real prospects to start signing.

by WTM on Jun 10, 2008 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions

I think it speaks to our lack of C depth.

Even though White is maybe more interesting as a potential prospect, we didn’t want to get caught with our pants down as far as organizational catchers were concerned, and then dredge up some really primitive specimen just to fill out the roster.

As prospects go, we’re supposedly pretty close on Aure.

by Vlad on Jun 10, 2008 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Also Austin Wright

HS LHP, 23rd round, one article said he was expected to sign. He seems interesting as he was highly regarded as a junior but his command fell apart during his sr. year.

A couple of the college catchers, Haniger and Carver, seem to have good bats. I’m hoping they’ll sign.

by WTM on Jun 10, 2008 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions

God knows...

...we could use some more catching depth.

by Vlad on Jun 10, 2008 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Tough to draft

I don’t know how you draft catchers. When I see the guys who are available, I figure anybody worthwhile is gonna be gone after the mid-1st round. Teams overdraft catchers like crazy-the Astros’ 1st round pick this year was nuts-so to get one who can field and at least hit a little you have to pass up somebody else with a much higher ceiling.

If the idea is to get as many high-ceiling guys in the system as possible, I can see why they didn’t take any catchers on day one.

by WTM on Jun 10, 2008 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions

I liked some of the non-first guys this year.

Particularly Paramore. I agree that they always seem to go about 20-30 picks before they should, though.

by Vlad on Jun 10, 2008 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Btw

Don’t count Lerud out yet. He’ll never hit for average, but he’s much better this year. He’s drawing walks and hitting for power, and he’s a good defensive catcher now. If he can draw a walk and run into one now and then, and catch and throw pretty well, he can be an above-avg. major league backup. And some catchers develop late.

by WTM on Jun 10, 2008 3:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Lerud looks OK this year, agreed.

But given Andrew Walker’s offensive collapse in his first look at full-season ball, Lerud’s the only guy in the system right now who looks like a potentially legit ML catcher. Given his injury history, Doumit’s past fragility, and the general lack of quality FA depth at the position, that’s terrifying.

I’m curious as to whether Lerud sneaks onto the 40-man this offseason, now that he’ll be eligible for the Rule 5. He’s not a great defender at this point and he’s had very limited reps behind the plate, but catchers are always targeted aggressively, and if we lose him we’re really up shit creek.

by Vlad on Jun 10, 2008 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Are there better resources for info?

I know the pirates’ main site sometimes has stories on who has signed, but is there any other sources to check out (save local papers, etc.)? I know BA used to have a draft database feature where it would list draft picks and what they signed for, but I think it is a paid service now. Thoughts?

by SpacePirate on Jun 10, 2008 4:46 PM EDT reply actions