The Pittsburgh Pirates started the second day of the 2012 MLB Draft by selecting Wyatt Mathisen, a catcher from Callen High School in Texas. He was third of 16 players selected in the draft for the Pirates. The question for Mathisen is whether or not they can sign him or if he will head for the University of Texas where he has an offer to play.
According to Bucs Dugout, Mathisen is considered by many to be the best high school catcher in the draft. The pool value for that pick is around $750,000. It could have been a strategy to try and direct more money into signing first-round pick Mark Appel.
Pittsburgh took another high school player on the second day of the draft, Florida right-handed pitcher Jonathan Sandfort. Only 17, Sandfort already throws 92 mph. He signed a commitment to play at the University of Florida.
In the fourth round, the Pirates picked Brandon Thomas, a center fielder from Georgia Tech. Athletic with some power, he projects as an everyday player at the position.
The Pirates got another good pick in the fifth round with right-handed pitcher Adrian Sampson, per Bucs Dugout. Recovered from Tommy John surgery, he throws in the low 90s with good command, which makes him look like a good value pick.
Pittsburgh's draft class looks like this so far:
8. Mark Appel, P, Stanford
45. Barrett Barnes, OF, Texas Tech
69. Wyatt Mathisen, C, Texas HS
103. Jonathan Sandford, P, Florida HS
136. Brandon Thomas, OF, Georgia Tech
166. Adrian Sampson, P, Bellevue CC
196. Eric Wood, 3B, Blinn College
226. Jacob Stallings, C, University of North Carolina
256. Kevin Ross, SS, Illinois HS
286. Douglas Crumlich, SS, UC-Irvine
316. Pat Ludwig, P, Yale
346. Chris Diaz, SS, NC State
376. Dalton Friend, P, Jefferson College
406. Thomas Harlan, P, Fresno State
436. Walker Buehler, P, Kentucky HS
466. Jonathan Youngblood, CF, Meridian CC
For more info on the Pirates' draft picks, visit Bucs Dugout.