The crew over at MLB Pipeline put together a new mock draft on Wednesday. Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo alternated picks, with Callis going first and taking all of the odd numbered picks. The Pittsburgh Pirates have the first overall pick in the July 2021 amateur draft and Callis has them taking right-handed pitcher Jack Leiter from Vanderbilt.
Callis notes that it’s a four-man race for the first overall pick right now, but he went with Leiter because of his dominating performance this year against elite competition, as well as his ability to pitch off of his fastball.
The next four picks (they made 20 total) were:
2. Jordan Lawlar, prep shortstop
3. Marcelo Mayer, prep shortstop
4. Kumar Rocker, college RHP
5. Brady House, prep shortstop.
Here’s recent video from Leiter, who has an 0.98 ERA in 55.1 innings over nine starts, with an .094 BAA and a 94:22 SO/BB ratio:
Jack Leiter, 94mph Fastball and 82mph Slider, Overlay. pic.twitter.com/A1RvcHDCM0
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 17, 2021
and
Jack Leiter, 77mph Curveball and 95mph Fastball, Individual Pitches + Overlay. pic.twitter.com/zxFiK7YHBR
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 10, 2021
