Ben Cherington is fond of reclamation projects, and the Pirates’ Rule 5 pick today shows that.
With the first pick, the Bucs chose RHP Jose Soriano, currently with the Los Angeles Angels’ AAA Salt Lake affiliate if you believe the conference call’s announcer. It wasn’t a surprise that a pitcher was chosen; this was something that just about everyone expected (even those of us who wished for a catcher).
Soriano, 22, was considered the Angels’ top pitching prospect, but there are … buts involved. One is that he has never pitched above A-level.