Draft Day Two (Rounds 3-10) A Crop of College Kids

TODAY'S PICKS:

CF Matt Frazier of Arizona went in the third round ($610,100; slot # 95). He's coming off a broken hand suffered in March; he didn't come back until May, so the Bucs may have stolen a stick here. Matt was originally taken in the late rounds of 2016 out of HS by the A's but went to 'Zona instead.

RHP JC Flowers of Florida State was picked in the fourth round ($460,000; slot #124). He touches 96 and is projected as a reliever. JC was an all-around guy; he also played center field and was a wide receiver for the football squad. (EDIT - the Bucs plan to use him as a starter)

RHP Grant Ford of Nevada was chosen in the fifth round ($343,400; slot #154). He's also projected to be a bullpen arm, which is where he played exclusively in 2019. Grant broke out after a wild child 2018 season, finding his command this season.

RHP Will Matthiesen of Stanford was taken in sixth round ($263,700; slot #184). He in the Pirates classic mold as a twirler at 6'-7". He's another tosser that spent most of his time as a reliever, though The Cardinal transitioned him into a starting role as this season went on. Will's handy with the lumber; he was also a DH and hit over .300. Clint do love to pinch hit his pitchers... (EDIT - In fact, the Pirates plan to use him as an OF'er)

C Blake Sabol of Southern Cal was the seventh round pick ($206,500; slot #214). He's a .270 hitter who's athletic; he played in the outfield some in 2018 before taking over the catcher's job full time. Blake looks like another glove-first receiver, fitting the Pirates schematic. He was drafted late in 2016 by the Indians, opting for the Trojans instead.

RHP Austin Roberts of Sacramento State was next up, picked on the eighth round ($168,500; slot #244). He's closed and started for the Hornets; the Bucs are sure looking hard at college bullpen guys today, trying, we assume, to shore up an organizational thin spot.

SS Ethan Paul of Vandy checked in as the ninth round ($152,300; #274) choice. Interesting pick; the Pirates drafted him last year in the 26th round and couldn't sign him. They like him; we'll see how he likes them (or more specifically, their offer, tho as a senior, he doesn't have much leverage). He played three years at second, sliding over to short in 2019, where he looked solid (he came to Vandy as a SS). Paul hit .325 as a senior, so he's not all leather.

RHP Cameron Junker was the tenth round ($143,900; #304) selection that closed out the day. He was a true starter for the Irish and halved his ERA this season after having a very good 2018 in Cape Cod (6-1/2.28 in eight starts). He's a pitch-to-contact guy; we'll see if he's a late bloomer or not.