MLB Pipeline released their latest mock draft on Wednesday and they have the Pittsburgh Pirates going for high school shortstop Marcelo Mayer. He has been the mock selection of the Pirates once or twice before recently as one of the top two prep shortstops in this class. High school shortstop Jordan Lawlar has been the pick for the Pirates numerous times over the last few weeks, including the latest update from Baseball America on Monday. The lefty hitting Mayer, who turned 18 in December, is rated as having four above average tools, along with average running speed.
The college season is still going on for many of the top players in the country, so they have a chance to improve their draft stock with the draft pushed back to mid-July this year. Jim Callis mentioned that the belief is that the Pirates are leaning towards a bat with the first overall pick. but he also said that he wouldn’t rule out an arm like Vanderbilt’s Jack Leiter.
The rest of the top picks in this Pipeline draft were:
2. Leiter
3. Lawlar
4. Henry Davis, Louisville catcher
5. Brady House, prep shortstop
6. Kumar Rocker, Vanderbilt pitcher
Here is video of Mayer from late last year:
