2010 Draft Review: Part 5

Dan Grovatt 6’1 195 Outfield
Drafted: 11th Round (#327)
College: Virginia
Over the past few years the University of Virginia has become one of the predominant college powers in baseball. Each year they seem to end up as one of the top teams in the game and mange to do it mainly with Virginia area talent. In recent years, Virginia has become one of the better states in terms of developing baseball talent thanks in part to star players like the Upton brothers, Ryan Zimmerman and David Wright it doesn’t look like it should drop off anytime soon. Though Dan Grovatt is a player from New Jersey he’s played a large role in the success of this Cavalier baseball program.

Strengths: He is considered to be patient at the plate and has a line drive stroke that offers some gap power which is something that Pirates management seems to be favoring in position players over the last few years.

Area for Improvement: Some people are saying that he has an “unconventional” swing. It has been described as one where he swings more with his upper body then with his arms.

Overview: Despite some struggles at the plate this season, he’s a solid all around bat who offers some versatility to the Pirates should he sign. After the draft I had a pretty good feeling that they might be able to sign him based on the fact that they drafted so few position players but at this point I’m cautiously hoping a deal might get done. If he signs then he has a chance to be a major contributor but my best guess is with so many high profile players ahead of him in the pecking order he might not be a high priority for the team.

Chance of Signing: I’ll go with 25%


Jared Lakind 6’2 195 1st Cypress Woods HS, TX
Drafted: 23rd Round (#687)
Commitment: Arkansas
When the draft concluded and I started to do my player research, Lakind was one of the players that I came away most impressed with. Not only being a top level Texas high product he’s also a talented 2 way player. Now we can say that most high school kids are 2 way players but not all have a high level upside at multiple positions that Lakind offers. From the information that I was able to gather, it seems that a good many teams liked him more on the mound but the Pirates drafted him as a 1st baseman and from what I’ve read I can clearly see why.

Strengths: At present time he’s considered to have above average bat speed and a solid line drive left handed stroke which in my opinion has always suited PNC Park well. His power isn’t anywhere near where it will be but as he fills out he should have well above average power and be able to play a solid 1st base or in the case of PNC a decent RF.

Area for Improvement: He’s a little slow on the base paths and will probably clog things up a bit, but he can’t clog them up anymore than the LaRoche brothers seem to do. Some question his defensive abilities, but to me I feel that one is grasping at straws if you’re looking at that as a major reason why one should or should not play a position.

Overview: Like I mentioned earlier, it seems like a great deal of teams were looking at him on the mound more than at first so the Pirates might feel like they have something special here, or they may figure there is really no chance of signing him so would it matter what position they draft him at? Realistically though he’s a top talent who should have gone very early in the second day of the draft, most likely in the first 10 rounds so a slide to this spot probably means that most teams didn’t feel that he would sign. I would have to think that with all of the high level options that the Pirates drafted early he would have to be a plan B player for them if they have money left over or they strike out a good deal of their other players.

Chance of Signing: I would say 10%.