Pirates select Kevin Newman

The Pittsburgh Pirates concluded the three teams in a row first round with the selection of Arizona shortstop Kevin Newman.
Newman led the Pac 12 in batting average last season,but did it without hitting a homer.
If you aren't hitting for power with aluminum bats,I doubt that you'll suddenly start doing so with wooden ones,although it is not out of the question that a few adjustments could see a modest increase.

The choice of Newman is the second straight season that the Pirates selected a Arizona shortstop that had power questions.
Cole Tucker was a high schooler that might grow into his lanky body,Newman is pretty much what you are going to get unless someone with the Pirates are able to improve his power as noted above.
Newman also has questions about his long term viability at shortstop and might be a player that is better suited to play second.
Looks to me that the upside to Newman is average starter with good average,downside a light hitting utilityman that bounces from team to team....

The Pirates did have another pick at 32 as compensation for the Royals signed Edinson Volquez.
Pittsburgh grabbed the son of a former Pirate Charlie Hayes (among many teams) in Texas high school third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes.
Hayes is a Tennessee commitment,but is not expected to be a difficult sign.
The 6'1 Hayes is noted as a line drive hitter more than a power hitter,but could grow into more of a power hitting type.
The question with Hayes is does he stick at third base and if he cannot,can he develop the pop to stick at first.

I like the pick of Hayes more than Newman.
Hayes is a risk with upside,those are part of the game.
Newman doesn't seem to have similar upside and unless this is part of a strategy to save money for riskier and more expensive signs later in the draft-color me unimpressed with this pick...