The first full projection of the this year’s first round features more certainty than it typically does this early, more than nine weeks before the Draft begins on July 9 in Seattle.
There’s a consensus on the top two prospects — who are bidding to become the first teammates ever to go 1-2 in the same Draft. For the rest of the top five, virtually every team would agree that a trio of outfielders are the next three best talents, lining them up in a variety of orders.
After that? Mayhem! There’s not a lot of agreement on the next tier of prospects and the back half of the first round is anyone’s guess. The hitters outshine the pitchers in both the college and high school ranks, which is why 20 hitters are projected for the first round.
Maintaining a 100-win pace for five weeks is one thing. But can Pittsburgh actually conquer the 162-game grind to reach the postseason for the first time since 2015?