Ahead of their Friday evening home game against San Francisco, the Pittsburgh Pirates took some key steps toward locking in their 2023 MLB Draft class, putting pen to paper with a handful of selections.
A shortstop and three right-handed pitchers officially signed with the Pirates, with the four players present at PNC Park.
The newest members of the Pirates organization are second-rounder Mitch Jebb (SS, Michigan State, No. 42 overall), fourth-rounder Carlson Reed (RHP, West Virginia, No. 104), fifth-round selection Patrick Reilly (RHP, Vanderbilt, No. 140) and 10th-rounder Landon Tomkins (RHP, Louisiana Tech, No. 287).
Slot values for the picks were $2.05 million for No. 42, $646,900 for No. 104, $455,600 for No. 140 and $171,200 for No. 287.
Per MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis, Jebb signed Friday for $1.65 million, while Reed also signed under the slot value at $600,000.
Reilly signed for the full slot bonus amount, with Tomkins signing for $15,000.
2nd-rder Mitch Jebb signs w/@Pirates for $1.65 million (pick 42 value = $2,045,900). @MSUBaseball SS, nice combination of hitting ability & speed, could be a 12-15 HR guy too. Big summer in @OfficialCCBL last year too. @MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/UXrgOGhkEa
— Jim Callis (@jimcallisMLB) July 15, 2023
5th-rder Patrick Reilly signs w/@Pirates for $455,600 (full pick 140 value). @VandyBoys RHP, inconsistent in college but big upside w/running 93-98 mph fastball, tight mid-80s slider. @MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/Up4ofKKrR2
— Jim Callis (@jimcallisMLB) July 15, 2023
4th-rder Carlson Reed signs w/@Pirates for $600k (pick 104 value = $646,900). Closer for @WVUBaseball is equipped to start as pro, mid-80s slider & changeup may be better than mid-90s fastball that gets to 98 mph. Very intriguing arm. @MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/LmEstSQLLj
— Jim Callis (@jimcallisMLB) July 15, 2023
Jebb was the Pirates’ next pick in the draft after No. 1 overall, which they used on star LSU pitcher Paul Skenes.
The 21-year-old shortstop batted .337 with a home run and 36 RBIs this past season for the Spartans and can also play second base.
Last summer, playing in the wood-bat Cape Cod League, Jebb posted a .356 batting average with 22 RBIs and 26 stolen bases, while also logging time defensively at third base.
“I’ve always played shortstop, but I feel like I’m a good enough athlete where I can go out there and perform,” Jebb said. “Absolutely, it’s going to take some development to get to that point, but I think I can handle it.”
The 20-year-old Reed, who is 6-foot-5, 200 pounds, has seen action as both a starter and reliever.
As a freshman and sophomore with the Mountaineers, Reed split time between the rotation and bullpen. But this past year as a junior, Reed thrived as a closer, posting a 2-1 record and 2.61 ERA with seven saves to go along with 60 strikeouts and 25 walks.
Reed’s performance earned him All-Big 12 First Team honors.
“Being from West Virginia and being able to play here (vs. Pitt) the last three years, it’s pretty cool to actually wear these colors instead of West Virginia,” Reed said.
Reilly’s future within the Pirates organization from a usage standpoint is also something of a question mark.
While deployed primarily as a reliever during his collegiate career at Vanderbilt, Reilly did log 14 starts from 2021-23.
In 2023, his junior year with the Commodores, Reilly went 5-4 with a 5.77 ERA in 16 appearances, 12 of which were out of the bullpen.
He struck out 65 and walked 30 in 48 ⅓ innings of work.
His repertoire centers around a fastball and slider, but Reilly is actively working to broaden the pitches he can execute to good effect.
“The biggest thing I’m trying to add is just a little more consistency,” he said. “It’s always been the good fastball, good slider and we’ve kind of added the cutter. Now we’re trying to do some things with the changeup and splitter, putting them together.”
As for Tomkins, 23, he owns a 13-4 career collegiate record with a 3.92 ERA.
Last season with the Bulldogs, as a senior, Tomkins made 30 appearances, six of which were starts, going 6-2 with a 3.52 ERA and 75 strikeouts over 76 ⅔ innings.
The 6-3, 200-pounder from Brandon, Miss., played a year of junior college ball at Hinds (Miss.) Community College before joining Louisiana Tech for the 2021 season.
“(I’m) leaps and strides ahead of what I was in junior college,” he said. “It’s been a big learning curve for me. Junior college wasn’t much different from high school. Obviously, I had to learn a lot when I got to D1, and I’m sure I’m going to have to learn a lot now.”
