Pirates sign three more draft picks

The Pirates have signed three more draft picks: center fielder Jack Herman (round 30) and right-handed pitchers Cody Smith (39) and Jake Mielock (40).

Smith and Mielock were drafted as college seniors out of Charleston Southern and Colorado Mesa, respectively. They figure to be organizational guys.

The significant signing here is Herman, a prep outfielder who had a commitment to the University of Maryland. He undoubtedly required something above the slot of $125,000. Herman is considered to have good all-around ability, including speed and some power potential.

The Pirates’ remaining unsigned picks include the two prep pitchers from the supplemental first and the second rounds — Gunnar Hoglund and Braxton Ashcraft — and three college players from the first ten rounds. Their remaining late-round picks are almost all prep players, so it’ll be a question of how much above-slot money they can hoard to try to sign more of the latter.