Pittsburgh Pirates 2011 Draft Day
Pirates GM Neal Huntington and his scouts have been preparing for this day for months. Tonight at 7 PM, the Pirates will make the #1 overall pick in the 2011 MLB Draft.
Over the last 48 hours, reports have surfaced saying that the Bucs will select UCLA RHP Gerrit Coles with the first pick. On his radio show yesterday, Huntington said the team hasn't made a final decision on the pick.
If Cole is the pick, the Pirates will have a collection of pitchers that will rival anyone in baseball.
Future Starters: Gerrit Cole, Jameson Taillon, Stetson Allie, Luis Heredia, Colton Cain, Zack Von Rosenberg, Bryan Morris, Rudy Owens and Jeff Locke.
If half of these guys live up to potential, the Pirates future looks promising.
However, as Pirate fans realize, draft picks don't always live up to potential.
Here is a look at the Pirates 1st round picks over the last 20 years:
Pirates 1st Round Picks:
2010: Jameson Taillon, RHP l) (2nd overall)
2009: Victor Black, RHP (Supplemental pick for failing to sign Tanner Scheppers) (49th overall)
2009: Tony Sanchez, C (4th overall)
2008: Pedro Alvarez, 3B (2nd overall)
2007: Daniel Moskos, LHP (4th overall)
2006: Brad Lincoln, RHP (4th overall)
2005: Andrew McCutchen, OF (11th overall)
2004: Neil Walker, C (11th overall)
2003: Paul Maholm, LHP, (8th overall)
2002: Bryan Bullington, RHP (1st overall)
2001: John Van Benschoten, RHP (8th overall)
2000: Sean Burnett, LHP (19th overall)
1999: Bobby Bradley, RHP (8th overall)
1998: Clint Johnson, LHP (15th overall)
1997: J.J. Davis, OF (8th overall)
1996: Kris Benson, RHP (1st overall)
1995: Chad Hermansen, OF (10th overall)
1994: Mark Farris, SS (10th overall)
1993: Andy Rice, 1B (Supplemental pick) (42nd overall)
1993: Jermaine Allensworth, OF (Supplemenal pick) (34th overall)
1993: Charles Peterson, OF (22nd overall)
1992: Shon Walker, OF (Supplemental pick) (33rd overall)
1992: Jason Kendall, C (23rd overall)
1991: Jon Farrell, C (24th overall)
