The Pittsburgh Pirates today signed the following players from the 2019 First-Year Player Draft. The announcement was made by Joe DelliCarri, Pirates Senior Director of Amateur Scouting.
Round 5: Grant Ford RHP 6-2/190 University of Nevada-Reno West Virginia
Went 5-1 with five saves, a 2.76 ERA (45.2ip/14er) and 51 strikeouts in 28 appearances as a junior in 2019 at the University of Nevada…Was named the Mountain West Pitcher-of-the-Week for the week of May 13 after leading Nevada to a three-game sweep at San Jose State…Was a 2019 second-team All-Mountain West selection…Is the first player drafted by the Pirates out of the University of Nevada since Justin Martin in 1999 (16th round).
Round 12: Kyle Wilkie C 5-11/190 Clemson University West Virginia
Hit .307 (67-for-218) with 14 doubles, six home runs and 41 RBI in 58 games as a junior in 2019 with Clemson...Was a third-team All-ACC selection in 2018 and 2019...Won the Tiger Baseball Award in 2018, which is given to the team’s best leader...Led the team in batting average and multi-hit games during his sophomore year...Was a two-time Clemson Regional All-Tournament selection.
Round 13: Chase Murray OF 5-11/180 Georgia Tech Bristol
Hit .235 (20-for-85) with two doubles, a triple and two home runs in 27 games as a junior in 2019…Was selected to the 2018 All-ACC second-team after hitting .343, which ranked second on the team…Hit .317 (32-for-101) with five doubles, one triple, two home runs and 14 RBI in 28 games while playing in the Cape Cod League in 2018... His brother, Cameron, played college baseball for Alderson Broaddus University in Philippi, West Virginia.
Round 14: Aaron Shackelford INF 5-9/200 The Masters University (CA) Bristol
Hit .415 (78-for-188) with 14 doubles, three triples, 36 home runs and 99 RBI in 52 games as a senior in 2019...Was the NAIA Player-of-the-Year and an NAIA first-team All-American selection in 2019...Led the NAIA in home runs, RBI, slugging (1.096) and total bases (206) during the 2019 campaign…Was an All-Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) selection in 2018 and 2019 and was the 2019 GSAC Player-of-the-Year.
Round 15: Garrett Leonard RHP 6-2/187 Rollins College West Virginia
Went 2-3 with a 3.95 ERA (68.1ip/30er) and 75 strikeouts in 16 appearances (13 starts) as a junior in 2019 at Rollins College…Tossed a nine-inning no-hitter against Sunshine State Conference opponent Lynn University as a sophomore in 2018…Took home SSC Pitcher-of-the-Week honors for the week of February 11, 2018…Was named to the 2016 Perfect Game pre-season All-American Team.
Round 16: Eli Wilson C 6-2/190 University of Minnesota Bristol
Batted .294 (63-for-214) with 15 doubles, two triples, five home runs and 29 RBI in 55 games as a junior in 2019…Was an All-Big Ten first-team selection in 2019… Received the Richard “Chief” Siebert Memorial MVP Award voted on by his teammates…His father, Dan Wilson, was selected seventh overall by the Reds in the 1990 MLB Draft and played 14 seasons with Cincinnati and Seattle.
Round 19: Cory Wood INF 5-9/175 Coastal Carolina University West Virginia
Hit .315 (72-for-232) with 20 doubles, one triple, two home runs and 30 RBI as a junior in 2019… Was named a 2018 third-team All-American by Collegiate Baseball while also being selected as a first-team All-Sun Belt…Was named a freshman All-American in 2017 by Collegiate Baseball and was also voted the 2017 Sun Belt Conference Freshman-of-the-Year.
Round 24: Trey McGough LHP 6-2/187 Mount St. Mary’s University Bristol
Went 3-4 with a 4.74 ERA (68.1ip/36er) and 60 strikeouts in 12 appearances as a junior in 2019...Led the team in innings pitched (76.1ip), strikeouts (62) and complete games (four) in 2018...Was named to the All-Northeast Conference first-team in 2018 and All-NEC Second Team in 2019…Is a graduate of Ferndale Area High School in Johnstown.
The Pirates have now signed 15 players from the 2019 draft.