Pirates Agree To Terms With First Round Pick Seth Hernandez

The Pittsburgh Pirates’ farm system just got a whole lot better.

First-round pick Seth Hernandez signed on Tuesday and will quickly become one of the top pitching prospects in baseball.

According to Jim Sallis, Hernandez received a signing bonus of $7.25 million, slightly below the slot value for the sixth overall pick. There was some question whether Hernandez would sign due to his status as a high-schooler, but it would be hard for him to raise his draft stock much higher than it already was.

Hernandez is known for his velocity, but he also has an excellent changeup. He’s only 19 years old, but if he advanced threw the minor leagues quickly enough, he could join a rotation headlined by Paul Skenes and Bubba Chandler. The Pirates will be careful not to rush Hernandez to the big leagues and likely limit his innings early in his career.

The Pirates also have shortstop Konnor Griffin in the farm system. He’s primed to become Baseball America’s top prospect in baseball after Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony graduates from prospect status.

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