Taillon, Machado, or Pomeranz?

The MLB Draft starts on Monday. To a team in the Pirates situation, this is a huge event. Not often noted by the media but worth noting is that the organization has treated it as such over the last two years by spending more money than any other team in MLB. They have the second pick this year and will more than likely miss out on the much hyped Bryce Harper. According to my reading they seem to be down to one of three players (in my order of preference): RHP Jameson Taillon, SS Manny Machado, or LHP Drew Pomeranz. Quick thoughts on each:

Taillon is my choice because its just not easy to find someone who throws as hard as he does with "polish" at 18 years old. He has already been called a harder throwing Josh Beckett. Bryce Harper's thoughts on him:

"I caught him against Cuba," Harper said of the shutout, 72/3-innings performance last fall that won the United States its inaugural gold medal in Pan-American Games 18-and-under baseball. "Struck out 17. Nasty stuff. He's amazing."


I like Machado as well, and am of course intrigued by the A-Rod comparisons even though they probably only come up because they are both from Miami. What worries me a bit is that his eventual size (already 6 foot 3 190 lbs at 18) will prevent him being a SS over the long term. However, his hitting potential makes it a somewhat moot point where he ends up playing.


Pomeranz is very good, but he wouldn't be my pick. He is more of a sure thing and will definitely get to the majors faster than the other two, but doesn't have the upside Taillon has ("only" hits 94 occasional, 90-92 consistently). However, he is left handed and that always matters to teams. Picking Pomeranz would also oddly mean that the Pirates have 3 guys who were roommates on Mississippi's 2009 Team in their minor league system. Weird.


Interesting thing....Keith Law, who was the first to report and confirm the Bucs were going to select Tony Sanchez last year, (seemingly out of nowhere) has changed his mock draft to show the Pirates taking Taillon. Its insider only on ESPN but you can see the Pirates part.


Whatever happens in the first round, it will be just as interesting to watch and see if the Pirates continue their tendency to take tough to sign high schoolers in the middle rounds and buy them out of their college committments. That is how you can continue to stock an improving minor league system.....