With the tenth overall pick in the 2018 MLB draft, the Pittsburgh Pirates have selected Travis Swaggerty, an outfielder from the University of South Alabama.
Swaggerty went undrafted coming out of high school but has made a name for himself in college. Swaggerty is an on-base machine who, despite not having lights-out power, has put up almost a 1.000 OPS in 53 games this season. He does have a bit of pop in his bat, with 13 homers for South Alabama, but the Pirates did not take Swaggerty to be a slugger.
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Swaggerty can run better than anyone taken before him. With 60-grade speed, Swaggerty is a threat on the bases as well as giving him a step up in the field. Swaggerty has both above average range and arm, and he should be a really solid outfielder for years to come.
Swaggerty likely is a center fielder for the Pirates in their farm, as his wheels allow him to get around really well in the outfield. Swaggerty will likely be the fourth best prospect in Pittsburgh’s farm system, despite probably not breaking the top 100 prospects.
