By: John Toth · 7mo
Photo: Saint Joseph's University Athletics
The Pirates finished the 2024 MLB draft by selecting six more pitchers in rounds 11-20. Here is a look at the newest draft picks selected by Pittsburgh.
Bimbi made 14 starts in 2024 and compiled a 6.09 ERA with 71 strikeouts in 54.2 innings. He pitched at Tennessee in 2023, and had a 5.27 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 13.2 innings. The left-handed Bimbi also pitched two seasons at Wabash Valley Community College, striking out 133 in 84.2 innings. Bimbi had Tommy John surgery in 2020 and has a four-pitch arsenal with a fastball that sits around 93 mph.
Janik is coming off a strong 2024 season where he hit .356 with seven home runs and 49 RBI, and was named to the 2024 Big Ten First Team. He has a strong eye at the plate as well, walking 29 times and striking out only 11 times. He has a strong arm and defensively is advanced enough to stick behind the plate as he moves through the organization.
The 6-foot-4 McShane punched out 57 batters in 43.1 innings, and posted a 3.95 ERA in 20 games in relief, during the 2024 season. He has pitched in relief the past three years for Saint Joseph’s and has a mid-90’s fastball and solid secondary pitches with his slider and changeup. His slider has a good bite to it, and he projects as a potential set up man down the road.
Ian Farrow started at Florida Gulf Coast and hit 21 home runs, which broke the school record for homers in a season. After the season he transferred to Miami where he hit .291 with seven long balls in just 130 plate appearances. Due to lack of playing time, he transferred back to Florida Gulf Coast, where he hit 15 homers and knocked in 43 runs last year, and was named first team Atlantic Sun Conference. He has played both corner outfield positions and has an above average arm.
Lege has played second base, third base and the outfield in his college career. He started at Delgado Community College and played two seasons there before transferring to Mississippi. In his first season at Ole Miss, Lege only hit .243 with three home runs in 181 at bats. He turned things around in 2024, hitting .323 with 13 homers and 38 RBI. He has excellent plate awareness and finished his college career walking more than he struck out (35-34). The 6-foot-1 Lege projects as a third baseman in the professional ranks.
Curley has already committed to Georgia to become a starting pitcher in 2025, and may be harder to sign than the other day three draft picks. The 5-foot-10 right hander put up solid numbers in relief for VCU in 2024, posting a 6-0 record, with a 2.87 ERA. He pitched in long relief but has the capability to start when stretched out. Curley has a fastball that can hit 96-mph, but usually sits around 94-mph.
Andrew Patrick put up big numbers in 2023 for Wright State. He hit .326 with 20 home runs and stole 31 bases. He only played 34 games this past season because of an early season injury. He only hit .244 with eight homers, and his extra base hits were down from the year before. He is a center fielder who has excellent speed. He has also played both corner outfield positions and a little bit of shortstop and third base. He has struck out 152 times in his college career and must improve in this aspect as he continues to progress.
Jake Shirk pitched in relief as a freshman and then three years as a starter at Wright State. He gave up more than a hit per inning each season as a starter, but showed excellent control. Last season he was 4-4 with a 6.41 ERA, but only walked 17 in 78.2 innings. The six-foot Shirk has a four-seam fastball that sits in the low-mid 90’s. He also throws a sinker, slider and changeup that he throws with a three-quarter arm slot. His changeup is the strongest of his secondary pitches. With his four-pitch arsenal and ability to control pitches, Shirk could projects as a long reliever.
Vogatsky was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 14th round of the 2023 MLB draft. He produced a 3-2 record with a 3.49 ERA in 27 games this past season at James Madison. He has a fastball that sits around 95-mph, an improving slider, and he also throws a curveball and a changeup. He has the makeup of a relief pitcher who will add pitching depth to the Pirates organization.
Round 20, RHP Taylor Penn, Woodford County HS (KY)
The 6-foot-5 Penn posted a 0.40 ERA with 89 strikeouts over 52 innings in 2024 and was named as Kentucky's Gatorade player of the year. He has signed a letter of intent to play baseball at Western Kentucky next year, so this may be a longshot to sign him to a professional contract. He has a fastball that hits 92-mph, but usually sits in the upper-80’s.
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