Pirates make a run on right-handed pitching on second day of MLB Draft

The Pittsburgh Pirates turned the second day of the MLB Draft into a run on right-handed pitching.

After taking New Mexico State shortstop Nick Gonzales in the first round and South Carolina right-hander Carmen Mlodzinski in the competitive balance round Wednesday night, the Pirates on Thursday picked three consecutive righty pitchers: Southern California prep star Jared Jones in the second round (No. 44), Division III closer Nick Garcia in the third (No. 79) and Appalachian State reliever Jack Hartman in the fourth (No. 108).

The draft was shortened from 40 rounds to five rounds this year because of the coronavirus pandemic and was conducted virtually. The Pirates have an $11,154,500 draft pool to sign players. Undrafted players can sign for $20,000 bonuses.

The 6-foot-2, 175-pound Jones, who starred at La Mirada High School and is a University of Texas recruit, has a fastball that sits in the mid-90s and a plus-slider but needs to work on his command.

Jones was 2-1 with a 0.82 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 17 innings this spring before his season was stopped because of the coronavirus crisis. He was 7-1 with a 0.77 ERA as a junior and 7-2 with a 0.80 ERA as a sophomore.

“He’s got exceptional rhythm in his delivery,” MLB Network analyst Dan O’Dowd said on the draft broadcast. “Some effort in his delivery. He’s a great competitor who started to make big strides in his fastball command. There’s simply a lot to like about this kid. He’s got one of the higher upsides of anyone in this year’s draft.”

Garcia was 9-0 with a 0.64 ERA and recorded 12 saves as the closer for Chapman University’s 2019 Division III national champions and had a 2.00 ERA with 36 strikeouts and seven walks over five starts and 27 innings in the 2019 and ‘20 seasons combined.

O’Dowd raved about Garcia’s “huge upside,” compared him to John Smoltz and said the Pirates “are getting truly a first-round talent in the third round.”

The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Hartman recorded 22 strikeouts and four saves in 12 innings this spring. As a junior, he had 26 strikeouts in 21⅔ innings in 20 appearances. Hartman was a position player in his first two seasons, as a freshman at Tallahassee Community College and a sophomore at College of Central Florida.

Congrats to App State pitcher Jack Hartman on being selected in the fourth round by the Pittsburgh @Pirates! #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/j22Q3uhuPs

— App State Baseball (@AppBaseball) June 12, 2020