The Pirates went high school heavy at the top of the 2024 draft.
First-round shortstop Konnor Griffin became the top prospect in baseball after his incredible pro debut this year.
Second-round shortstop Wyatt Sanford split time between the Florida Complex League and Low-A Bradenton before an injury cut his season short.
It was a solid debut campaign for Sanford. He hit .243/.384/.376 with five home runs and 34 stolen bases in 64 games. He also was hit by a pitch 16 times, including four times in a row over a two-game span to start the season.
“I think the thing that stands out for me for Wyatt (is) heâ€s a gamer,†Pirates farm director Michael Chernow said. “Heâ€s gritty. Heâ€s just a really hard-nosed baseball player. Itâ€s noticeable. He plays the game hard, he plays it smart, too.
“From a baseball IQ standpoint, heâ€s really sharp up the middle. He’s a quality defensive shortstop and has a chance to stick at shortstop.”
Defense was Sanfordâ€s calling card coming out of high school in Texas, and he delivered by committing just three errors over nearly 500 innings up the middle.
While he didnâ€t hit for a ton of power, Sanford hit three home runs in a four-game span after his promotion to Bradenton, so there may be some untapped power that he could eventually grow into.
After his initial power surge in his first few Florida State League games, the lefthanded-hitting Sanford struggled a bit, especially against spin, which was nothing unexpected for a teenager in his first taste of full-season ball.
As is the case with many prep draft picks, he was making adjustments, and in his last 10 games before his injury, he had more walks than strikeouts to go with an .824 OPS.
“Heâ€s adapted really well there—makes really quality swing decisions, makes a ton of contact in the zone,” Chernow said. “I think heâ€s going to get stronger, the contact quality is going to continue to grow, and we think he’s a heck of a defender.â€
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