If one glances over at MLB Pipelines’ top 30 Pittsburgh Pirates list, catcher Deon Stafford can be found at number 30. Stafford was not a preseason top 30 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, but has seen himself sneak onto the list recently. With certain players graduating off the list, prospects like Stafford are able to get some recognition. So who is he?
Stafford was drafted in 2017 by the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was a fifth round pick, one which followed up a fourth round pick who was also a catcher in Jason Delay. Although he was taken a round after Delay, Stafford was viewed to have more upside.