The Draft approaches...

The 2012 First Year Player Draft will take place on Monday June 4.  The Draft can be a best friend or a terrible enemy for a team like the Pirates. Obviously the former would be the ideal situation.  The Pirates have used the draft lately to flood the system with young power arms to add outstanding pitching depth to the organization and hopefully it translates well.  The Pirates method of over slotting highly rated High School guys is still in the wait and see process. They have depth and talent, but it is still in the lower ends of the system.  The 2012 Draft is a great opportunity for the Pirates to address some offensive issues.  Now this will not help the current team's putrid offense, but it should help improve the future state of the offense. The Pirates throughout the system have pretty bad offenses, and only a few bats to get excited about.  Starling Marte and Josh Bell are two guys that have to give Pittsburgh baseball enthusiasts hope. After that, we are talking about Tony Sanchez,Mel Rojas, Alen Hansen, Alex Dickerson, and Robbie Grossman as the next few waves of Pirate offensive help.  So essentially, not much to get excited about.  The Pirates system actually does have quite a few Outfielders with potential, but just about the entire infield situation is bleak.  The Pirates could draft a Shortstop and he could instantly be the best in the organization.  Neal Huntingdon could look First Base, because Alex Dickerson and Matt Curry are far from sure things and there is nothing in the majors for the future either.  They could also look to a Catcher because Tony Sanchez isn't exactly living up to a top 5 pick as he spends another year in AA Altoona.  This all means the Pirates could go a lot of different ways with their picks.  Gerrit Cole and Jameson Taillon are the the two most intriguing pieces to the Pirates future.  They appear to be on the same pace and could very well be pitching in PNC Park by 2014. The landscape of that team is hard to predict, but in a perfect world Andrew McCutchen is playing at an All Star/MVP level. Pedro Alvarez will be driving in runs and hitting bombs in the Allegheny.  Jose Tabata and Starling Marte will be manning the other Outfield positions and a roster filled with guys in-house and hopefully a free agent bat that is actually productive. Along with Taillon and Cole pitching like Strasburg. (Read: Perfect World scenario)   So what can the 2012 Draft do to help 2014? Does this draft factor into the 2014 team, or does it help a little further down the line?  It is hard to predict things, because the one thing I have learned about Baseball....It is very hard to predict.  So what should the Pirates be looking for during Monday's First Round with the 8th overall pick and beyond. The Pirates have shown the are not afraid to take guys and dangle money in front of "unsignable" High School prospects.  Here is a list of 10 guys that are possibles with that Number 8 pick.....No real order, just ten prospects.

1. Mike Zunino Catcher Florida-This would likely put Tony Sanchez in a tough spot.  Zunino is a polished Catcher from a powerhouse program.  He would project out to be a middle of the lineup type of guy, something the Pirates always need.  I'm not sure how likely it will be to see him around at this point, because he is rated very highly. Stranger things have happened, but if he is around I just don't see the Bucs passing on him.  He can move up through the system quickly.

2. Carlos Correa Shortstop Puerto Rico- OK, this is the one guy the Pirates would absolutely love to take. The organization is paper thin in the middle infield. Correa is about as sure as anything for a High School Shortstop. Scouts believe he has the offensive tools along with a very polished set of defensive skills.  The Pirates would not see him immediately, but if he produces could move up the charts very well.  As I said earlier, the Pirates have very few minor league bats to get excited about, he is a guy that would excite you.

3. Max Fried LHP California HS-The Pirates have some prized righties in the Minors, how about adding a Lefty?  Fried is a tall lanky left hander with a  good fastball. He could the Pirate version of Cole Hamels down the line. The Pirates have a legitimate chance on Fried with the 8th pick, but will they continue to draft pitching?  It is hard to imagine the Pirates don't add a marquee bat, but I wouldn't be too upset if they select Fried.

4. Albert Amora OF Florida HS-Amora is an athletic outfielder that has all the tools to project out as an elite Major League Outfielder. He stands at 6-2 which may translate him being a solid power hitter down the line.  He should be around at the 8th pick and would be a great addition.  The Pirates have Mel Rojas and Josh Bell currently in the A ranks. It is not absolutely necessary to take an Outfielder, but if he is the best available...take him.

5. Courtney Hawkins OF Texas HS-Hawkins is another High School Outfielder but is not in the same mold as Amora.  Hawkins will be more of a power hitter. He his athleticism, but his offensive game would put him more in the middle of the lineup, and likely a corner outfielder.  The Pirates situation with a High School Outfielder is the same as I already mentioned. He would be nice, but I would prefer Amora to Hawkins.

6. Deven Marrero SS Arizona State-The Pirates have been linked to Marrero because of the Shortstop troubles. Is he really the answer to them?  Marrero is a true shortstop that would be able to field right away.  He is a solid hitter, but hasn't had the best of seasons. That doesn't always mean anything, but still the Pirates can not botch this pick.  Marrero would still be an upgrade to most of the middle infielders in the system. He can be in Pittsburgh rather quick. He may be the answer, but his interest has fallen as the draft process has gone on.

7. Richie Shaffer 1B/3B Clemson-Shaffer is the best college power hitter in the draft. I think the Pirates should give him a serious look. Shaffer could be the Pirates answer to a power hitter of the future. He could play at third, but it seems scouts see him at first.  College players typically move up the latter quicker than high school players.  Shaffer would be a welcomed addition as the Pirates do not have anything set in stone for First Base for the foreseeable future.

8. Stephen Piscotty 3B Stanford-Piscotty is another college corner infielder that the Pirates should consider. Piscotty has a good power streak, but can also hit for average.  He could potentially move Alvarez to First Base because he is athletic and talented over at third.  Piscotty will be around when the Pirates pick, so is certainly a name to watch for.

9. Gavin Cecchini SS Louisiana HS-He is not the best Shortstop in the draft, but he could turn out to be a good professional.  Cecchini would fill a void, but may be more of a project than Pittsburgh is willing to take on. He has good baseball pedigree, so the Bucs may take a look.

10. Kyle Zimmer RHP San Francisco-While the Bucs have their Right Handed pitcher of the future, it never hurts to have another. Zimmer would be hard to pass on if he is around at 8. Zimmer has everything you  would want as a college righty, and could join Cole and Taillon and be about the same age with the same progression likely.