The Pirates chose center fielders with their second and third picks Monday in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, then took a college third baseman with their final selection of the night.
Sammy Siani of William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia was chosen with the 37th overall pick in competitive balance round A. In the second round at No. 62, the Pirates selected Indiana University's Matt Gorski. The University of Houston’s Jared Triolo was taken 72nd overall in competitive balance round B.
Competitive balance round selections are determined by MLB using a formula that includes which teams receive revenue-sharing money and which teams pay into the system.
The Pirates chose right-hander Quinn Priester from Cary-Grove High School in Cary, Ill., in the first round with the 18th pick. You can read more about that selection here.
Siani, 5-foot-11 and 175 pounds, is considered an outstanding defensive player. He's a left-handed hitter and thrower who has shown the ability to hit for average, and scouts believe he could eventually have decent power.
“There is potential in his body and upside for more room to grow,” said Pirates senior director of amateur scouting Joe DelliCarri. “We like the athleticism and the way around in the outfield but, more so, we feel strongly about his offensive potential.”
Siani, 18, hit .457 with eight doubles, nine triples, six home runs, 25 RBIs and 16 stolen bases in 32 games this year.
His older brother, Mike, was selected 109th overall by the Reds in last year’s draft and signed for a $2-million bonus. Sammy Siani, 18, is committed to play college ball at Duke. The slot value for the No. 37 pick is $2 million.
Gorski is a 6-foot-4, 195-pound right-handed hitter who has wowed scouts with his raw power and speed. However, there are questions about whether he will make enough contact to hit major-league pitching.
In 55 games this season, Gorski hit .271/.374/.498 with 13 doubles, one triple, 12 home runs, 45 RBIs and 18 stolen bases. Gorski, 21, is a native of Fishers, Ind., an Indianapolis suburb that is also the hometown of Bryan Bullington, who the Pirates chose first overall in 2002.
Triolo, 21, is a 6-foot-3, 212-pound right-handed hitter. A native of Austin, Texas, Triolo batted .332/.420/.512 with seven homers, 44 RBIs and 13 steals in 56 games this spring and had more walks (31) than strikeouts (30).
PERROTTO'S VIEW
The Pirates love players with tools and Siani and Gorski fit the description. Oddly enough, though, the younger Siani is more advanced than Gorski.
Triolo hasn’t shown much home run power for a college third baseman but scouts -- and analytics people -- love his plate discipline.
