MLB Draft: Who Should the Pirates Select Number One Overall?

The first round of the 2011 MLB Draft is quickly approaching.

Many high school, collegiate, and junior college players will be selected and fall into the minor league ranks of their respective major league franchises.

Every year the No. 1 pick is a highly debated and analyzed situation.

In 2011, the Pittsburgh Pirates hold the No. 1 overall pick for the first time since they decided to select Bryan Bullington in 2002.

The Pirates' selection of Bullington in 2002 would be no different than the several other flops the Pirates had taken in the first round recently. Pirates fans who also happen to be gluttons for punishment can check out other recent first round miscues here.

This year the Pirates have a chance to inject talent into an organization starving for success.

In a draft riddled with uncertainty, as well as lacking a true superstar, the top pick is surrounded by more mystery than usual.

Whether they select an arm to pair with future ace Jameson Taillon, or a bat to add to their already young nucleus in the field, one thing is certain: The Pirates have options.

Here are five players the Pirates should be considering with their top pick.

Gerritt Cole, P, UCLA

2011 statistics: 6-8, 3.31 ERA, 4 CG, 114 SO, 24 BB, .242 BAA

Gerrit Cole, as reported by Pirates beat writer Dejan Kovacevic, will be the Pirates top pick in this year's draft. 

Cole would certainly fit a need for the Pirates. While Pirates' pitchers have been much better than expected thus far in 2011, the need for arms is still very strong in the Steel City.

In 2008, Cole was selected 28th overall by the New York Yankees out of high school, and has continued to get better in his third year in a UCLA Bruins uniform.

However, Cole has hit his share of rough patches during his junior season. There is some concern for his command of the strike zone, and people are searching for a reason why Cole has not had great success during his junior season.

Cole has the talent, with three above average pitches, but does he have the command necessary to maximize his stuff?

Cole may have the makeup and the tools to one day be a Cy Young winner, but Pirates fans do not want to hear about that. They want to see success and numbers that showcase that ability.

Whether Cole hits his very-high ceiling or continues to have mediocre statistics is yet to be seen.

One thing is for sure, the Pirates cannot afford anything but a sure thing with this year's top pick.

Do Cole's numbers look like future ace numbers to you?

Danny Hultzen, P, University of Virginia

2011 statistics: 11-3, 1.57 ERA, 148 K, 14 BB, .189 BAA

Hultzen is widely considered one of the low risk, and possibly low reward, picks of this years draft.

While the lefty has been dominant and consistent for the Virginia Cavaliers so far this season, Hultzen is a player that does not have a very high ceiling.

This does not mean Hultzen is not talented. Boasting a fastball in the low to mid-90's, Hultzen also possesses great command and great instincts on the mound. According to mlb.com, Hultzen possesses the rare blend of being a lefty, while also having plus stuff and great instincts.

The low ceiling may deter the Pirates when it comes down to the first selection, but Hultzen's sinking fastball will most certainly be taken within the top five picks.

It is hard to pass on a player that could potentially arrive in the majors faster than anyone of this year's class, but the Pirates need a future ace, not Paul Maholm 2.0.

Dylan Bundy, P, Owassa (Okla.) High School

2011 statistics: 11-0, 0.20 ERA, 158 K, 5 BB

No, you are not reading those statistics incorrectly.

Dylan Bundy is widely regarded as the best high school arm, and maybe the best overall high school player, available in this year's draft class.

Bundy boasts a staggering 158 strikeouts through a mere 71 innings pitched. The fact that he has only surrendered five walks through those same 71 innings is truly astounding regardless of his high school competition.

He is the classic high risk, high reward player. He couples a high 90's fastball with a cut fastball, and also a sharp biting curveball. He is very mature for his age, and according to prospectwire.com, he has the potential to rise through the minors very quickly despite being only 18 years old.

Bundy does lack height at only 6'1'', but that has not stopped him from putting up impressive power numbers and should not keep teams from taking a chance on his very live arm.

In my opinion, if the Pirates do go the pitcher route in the draft, Bundy should be the pick. His ceiling is to tough to deny, and the fact that he is already way ahead of the learning curve for a high school player makes him impossible to pass up.

Bubba Starling, CF, Gardner-Edgerton (Kan.) High School

2011 statistics: .508 BA, 8 HR, 21 SB

The player battling Bundy for the title of best high school player is none other than Bubba Starling.

Starling is a five-tool player that will give whichever teams decide to choose him a little bit of everything.

He has the arm to throw you out from the outfield, the legs to run balls down and steal bases, and the line drive swing needed to become a great hitter at the next level.

The major hang up for Starling, ironically, has to do with just how good of an athlete he is. Starling is committed to play quarterback for the University of Nebraska in the fall, and while signs do point to him pursuing his baseball career, one can never be so sure.

While Starling may be a can't miss talent on the baseball diamond, the football causes doubts for me concerning his commitment.

If the Pirates fail to show progress while Starling is in the minors, will he change his mind?

If he has a down year in his development, does he second guess himself and return to the gridiron?

Starling may become a perennial All-Star and a real asset to whoever drafts him, but No 1 overall picks should not come with uncertainty of any kind.

Anthony Rendon, 3B, Rice University

2011 statistics: .332 BA, 6 HR, 37 RBI

In my opinion, Rendon is the player the Pirates should select with the top pick in this year's draft.

Despite a shoulder and ankle injury that have hampered his production all season, Rendon is the real deal at the plate and in the field.

He possesses the glove of an Evan Longoria or a Ryan Zimmerman, and also possesses a swing with very few holes in it.

He can hit for average, and while he may only have six home runs this season, his 26 bombs from a year ago suggest his shoulder may be playing a role in his power outage.

Rendon is the type of player teams can build a lineup around. Yes, the Pirates do have Pedro Alvarez reluctantly entrenched in the hot corner, but Rendon is good enough to bump Alvarez over to first base where he belongs.

Injuries do make teams wary, especially with the top pick, but if it came down to Rendon's injury or an arm injury for a pitcher, the pick is still obviously Rendon. While Rendon does come with a certain degree of uncertainty, it is still easier to project a hitter's success over a pitcher's.

In a draft lacking a true superstar, I would always take the best bat available.

The man handling that bat is Anthony Rendon.