Will Craig had been waiting with family and friends since MLB Draft pre-show coverage began at 6 p.m. Thursday night when something strange appeared on his television screen.
He saw his name next to something that said he had been drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates with the 22nd overall pick, but the first reaction wasn’t one of excitement, but, rather, confusion.
“A pitcher? What?” Craig asked.
The Wake Forest project, known for his power as a third baseman, was listed as a pitcher.
“We entered it, and it was verbally given that he was a third baseman,” said general manager Neal Huntington said. “We scrambled to get to him. We like him a lot as a hitter, and we wanted to make that clear.”
Sure, Craig pitched several times while at Wake Forest, but he typically played third base, and that’s where he’d like to continue to play.
Pirates’ director of scouting Joe DelliCarri wouldn’t indicate where Craig would play (third base or as a pitcher), leaving that to assistant general manager Kyle Stark and his team.
Gut feeling pays off
It’s ironic that this story is a near case of mistaken identity when Craig has always known who he is. Instead, it should be a story of a man trusted his instinct and was rewarded.
Craig attended Science Hill High School in Johnson City, Tenn. East Tennessee isn’t an area where hitters are heavily recruited, but one where pitchers have an easier time catching on. A perfect case is pitcher Daniel Norris, who attended high school with Craig and was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the second round of the 2011 MLB Draft.
Craig had the opportunity to find success out of high school, just as Norris, his mentor, did.
As a pitcher, Craig could throw 93-94 mph, and the thought of increasing that speed by one or two was something that intrigued pro scouts.
He was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 13th round of the 2013 MLB Draft, but he decided not to sign.
The Royals viewed Craig as a pitcher, but he didn’t.
“I felt I was overlooked as a hitter,” Craig said. “I felt I was good and that hitting was my forte.”
So Craig headed to Wake Forest. There, he played under head coach and Johnstown, Pa. native, Tom Walter.
“It was a really close relationship,” Craig said. “We held each other accountable, and you find a good friend. The first year I was intimated, but afterward I felt comfortable and opened up to him, and he did the same to me.”
Craig’s patience rings familiar tune
The Pirates have become a team known for stretching out at-bats and making pitchers work hard.
Craig has a similar patience level at the plate — each of the past two seasons, he’s walked more than he’s struck out, which perhaps is something that made him a more attractive draft choice to the Pirates.
“It helps my game when it comes to getting doubles and extra-base hits,” Craig said. “I have a certain way of hitting and look for pitches. I take a lot of pride in not striking out.”
The Pirates’ scouting director praised Craig’s ability at the plate.
“He is a good hitter, and we believe he has the hitter trait to square a baseball,” DelliCarri said. “He has a good eye and hand-eye coordination. He has things that can translate to the major leagues.”
Pirates continue their draft
The Pirates had two more day-one draft picks: left-handed pitcher Nick Lodolo with the 41st overall selection (Comp Round A) and right-handed pitcher Travis MacGregor at pick No. 68.
Lodolo, who currently has a four-year commitment to TCU and is a 2016 Rawlings-Perfect Game First Team All-American, pitches a low-90s fastball, a changeup and a slurve. He’s listed at 6-foot 6-inches and 180 pounds, but he’s expected to gain weigh. Scouts were high on his potential upside.
MacGregor is a Clemson commit as well as a 2016 Rawlings-Perfect Game honorable mention All-American selection.
Recently, he’s seen his velocity increase a couple of miles-per-hour, and he drew the Pirates interest as he has been progressing in events he’s pitched.
“Both (Lodolo and MacGregor) have “now‘ stuff with the chance to exceed and progress,” DelliCarri said. “They will ad to their frames and athleticism with the goal of becoming grown men at PNC Park. We see the upsides and positives and like both kids.”
High school players can be difficult to help progress, but by two drafted who have committed to colleges, the idea of drafting such a young player could prove more enticing.
“With the new system, it is challenging to (get) high school guys later in the draft,” Huntington said. “It’s not so easy to get that guy in the eighth or ninth round like we did in the first four years.”
Image credit: @Pirates
