MLB Mock Draft 2011: Pittsburgh Pirates Mum on First Pick Selection

A player's value within the draft is much like the stock market--it can rise and fall at any time. The Pittsburgh Pirates hold the first pick in Monday's Rule 4 Draft, and the consensus is that there is no consensus pick at the top of the board.

Kevin Goldstein, draft guru at Baseball Prospectus, believes that the Pirates could decide to go with University of Virginia southpaw Danny Hultzen with the first overall pick rather than Gerrit Cole or Anthony Rendon.

According to Goldstein:

The last two years were much easier; everyone knew Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper would be the first picks in the draft, so you worked from there. Now, just one week away from the first selection, the Pirates are still considering a range of players, which complicates any flow chart of draft logic. Rumors of the Pirates being interested in the top high school pitcher (Dylan Bundy) and position player (Bubba Starling) have waned considerably, but there is a consensus that there is very little consensus within Pittsburgh in terms of taking Rice infielder Anthony Rendon, UCLA right-hander Gerrit Cole, or University of Virginia lefty Danny Hultzen. If forced to do a mock draft today (you'll see one later in the week), I'd attach Hultzen to the Pirates, but based on numerous conversations with both teams and agents, this would be my level of confidence:

Danny Hultzen: 40%
Gerrit Cole: 30%
Anthony Rendon: 20%
The Field: 10%

Almost looks like Goldstein is handicapping the Kentucky Derby...

Goldstein goes on to point out that because of the Pirates' indecision at the top, it muddies up the waters a bit for the teams directly below them (Mariners, Diamondbacks, Orioles, Royals) in terms of their draft selections as well.

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