Pirates select prep pitcher Jared Jones No. 44 overall

With the 44th pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, the Pittsburgh Pirates selected Jared Jones, a right-handed pitcher out of La Mirada High School in California.

While Jones is seen primarily as a pitcher, he also played the outfield and demonstrated significant pop in his bat despite frequently swinging and missing. He's the son of Keith Jones, who was briefly an infielder in the Arizona Diamondbacks' system.

Bio

Age: 18
Position: RHP
Height/Weight: 6-foot-1, 180 lbs
Bats/Throws: L/R
School: La Mirada High School
NCAA commit: Texas

Tools

• Dominant fastball consistently reaches high 90s (60-grade tool)
• Two sliders, one hard and one soft
• Arm strength that contributed to two-way status
• Big home-run power if given the chance to swing a bat

Why you're going to love this guy

• Three-time member of USA Baseball junior national team
• Potential to have three solid pitches with development of changeup

Things he'll need to overcome

• Control needs developing (40-grade tool)
• Inconsistent delivery
• Holes in swing pushed him toward primarily serving as a pitcher

2019-20 stats

Take a look ...

(Video source: 2080 Baseball)