Draft Night: HS Hotshots, College Bats on First Day

And with their first selection (#18 overall) the Pirates pick...RHP Quinn Priester. A multi-sport high school kid (he's 18) w/a four-seamer, two-seamer and big curve, the Cary-Grove (IL) HS hurler is committed to TCU. He's 6'-3", 200 pounder who throws in the low-to-mid 90's and touches 96-97. Quinn fills up the strike zone and has an easy, repeatable three-quarter delivery, so while raw, he's not a total project. The Pirates apparently had him on their short list; several sources had him linked to the Bucs. Priester's projected as a middle-of-the-pack starter. The slot value for this position is $3,481,300.

Quinn Priester photo via Pittsburgh Pirates

At #37 in the compensation round, the Bucs went for OF Sammy Siani, 18, from Philly's Penn Charter HS (PA). The LH is a Duke commit and the brother of Reds minor-league CF Michael Siani, a 4th rounder last year. Siani's not the biggest guy (5'-11", 170 lbs) but is speedy and should be able to hold down CF, can run the bases, steal a few sacks and is a gap hitter who is expected to grow into some power. Slot value for the comp round is $1,999,300.

In the second round, at selection #57, Pittsburgh took Indiana OF Matt Gorski. The 6'-4",195 lb, junior hit .279 while slugging .516 w/12 home runs, and has speed, pop and a good arm. He was a reach in this round, so it's likely he's going to an get under-slot bonus; the slot value for this pick is $1,243,600.

The competitive balance round, #72 on the board, was used on Houston 3B Jared Triolo, the highest-drafted Cougar since Brad Lincoln was selected fourth overall in 2006 by the Pirates, and hopefully he has a little more impact. He's a big guy at 6'-3", 212 lbs, and hit .332 with seven home runs; the Bucs hope to free up some more power from his stick. The slot value for this spot is $870,700; like Gorski, he was taken a round or two sooner than projected.

Second chance pays off: LHP Nick Lodolo passed on the Pirates out of high school as the 41st overall pick in 2016 to attend TCU. Looks like a good choice; the Reds selected Lodolo with the #7 pick of the first round last night; that should bump his bonus nicely.