MLB Draft Day 3: Pirates pick 5 more college pitchers

A look at the Pittsburgh Pirates’ picks on the third day of the MLB Draft:

• With their first choice Tuesday, at No. 324 overall in the 11th round, the Pirates selected left-handed pitcher Jacob Bimbi (6-foot, 185 pounds) of Western Kentucky University. Bimbi, 21, started 14 of his 15 appearances this season, struck out 71 batters and walked 25 in 54 2/3 innings. A senior, he allowed a .284 batting average with nine home runs while compiling a 6.09 ERA and 1.59 WHIP.

• In the 12th round (No. 354), the Pirates chose University of Illinois third-team All-American catcher Camden Janik, who turned 22-years-old Tuesday. Janik, an All-Big Ten first-team selection as a junior this season, struck out only 11 times in 225 at-bats, fewest in the nation by anyone with 225 at-bats. At 5-10, 195 pounds, he produced a slash line of .356/.440/.973 while collecting 15 doubles, two triples, seven home runs and 49 RBIs.

• In the 13th round (No. 384), the Pirates stayed in-state and picked Saint Joseph’s (Pa.) right-handed pitcher Matt McShane. A junior, McShane (6-4, 220) pitched largely in relief this season, appearing in 20 games with only one start. He saved two victories while compiling an ERA of 3.95 and WHIP of 1.27, with 57 strikeouts and 18 walks in 43 1/3 innings. He allowed three homers and a batting average of .224. He was named a Freshman All-American and a member of the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie team in 2022.

• In the 14th round (No. 414), the Pirates took Florida Gulf Coast outfielder and right-handed power hitter Ian Farrow, who compiled an 1.254 OPS this season, including an on-base percentage of .504. In 47 games (all starts) and 176 at-bats, Farrow (6-2, 215) hit .375 while slugging 15 homers, with 17 doubles, two triples and 44 RBIs. He began his career at FGCU in 2021, transferred to Miami after two seasons and then back to Florida Gulf Coast. In his final season at FGCU this spring, he was named second-team All-American and first-team Atlantic Sun designated hitter. For the Hurricanes in 2023, he was 5 for 5 in a game against Florida Atlantic and hit three home runs in back-to-back days against N.C. State.

• In the 15th round (No. 444), the Pirates chose Ole Miss outfielder/infielder Ethan Lege (6-1, 215). He appeared in 43 games (all starts), but his season ended May 1 when he broke his thumb in a game against Mississippi State. He played 41 games in left field, two at second base. When healthy Lege displayed power with 13 home runs, 11 doubles and a .645 slugging percentage. He hit .323 with a 1.069 OPS. In 2023, Lege started 49 games at third base. That season, he led Ole Miss in times hit by a pitch (14) while striking out only 16 times in 181 at-bats.

• In the 16th round (No. 474), the Pirates selected right-handed relief pitcher Brian Curley, who threw 78 1/3 innings this season, recording nearly a strikeout per inning (78), with 35 walks and nine hit batters. In his sophomore season this spring, he compiled a 6-0 record with three saves, a 2.87 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and .292 batting average against. Curley (5-10, 200) allowed five home runs.

• In the 17th round (No. 504), the Pirates picked junior outfielder Andrew Patrick (6-4, 195) of Wright State. After an early-season injury, he played in only 34 games with 33 starts, but slugged eight home runs and six doubles and drove in 24 runs. He compiled a .244 batting average, with an .861 OPS, while leading the team with 17 stolen bases.

• In the 18th round (No. 534), the Pirates chose Patrick’s Wright State teammate, right-handed pitcher Jake Shirk (6-2, 200). Shirk led the team in hit batters (15) while compiling a 6.41 ERA and 1.37 WHIP. In 14 starts (78 2/3 innings), he struck out 64 batters and walked 17 while allowing a .290 batting average.

• In the 19th round (No. 564), the Pirates selected James Madison right-handed pitcher Joe Vogatsky, who struck out 48 batters in 49 innings. Vogatsky (6-foot, 215) worked exclusively in relief this season, saving nine victories among his 27 appearances. He fashioned a 3-2 record, 3.49 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and .232 batting average against.

• In the 20th round (No. 594), the Pirates chose 18-year-old right-handed pitcher Taylor Penn, their last player drafted and the team’s only high school player of the day. A graduate of Woodford County (Ky.) High School, he is committed to attend Western Kentucky University. During his senior season this spring, he earned a 4.09 GPA in the classroom and a 0.43 ERA on the mound.

“Taylor Penn is the best baseball player in the state and he can do anything on the baseball field,” Woodford coach Paul Patterson saild. “If we have to win a baseball game, I’d pick him over anybody in the state to be on the mound. He’s an incredible teammate, fierce competitor and the hardest worker I’ve ever coached.”