After the 2019 draft, the Padres set a record when they signed prep outfielder Hudson Head for $3 million, the biggest bonus handed out to a player in the third round. The Pirates tied that mark a couple of years later after signing Bubba Chandler in 2021.
Head, 23, was included in the Joe Musgrove trade and spent 2021 in Bradenton, He had a high walk rate (15.7%) but hit for a low average and struck out over 30% of the time.
Despite that, he was pushed to Greensboro in 2022 and has been stuck there since then. He missed a chunk of the 2023 season with an injury but played over 100 games this past year. It was more of the same struggles, as Head batted .208/.303/.383 with 13 home runs and nine stolen bases. The home runs were good for sixth on the team, and he finished third in the South Atlantic League in triples. He also struck out over 30% of the time.
Head is an example of how trades work out sometimes. He was the big name included then, but it wound up being David Bednar. He played well defensively, which should help him as a depth piece, but the hitting issues seem stuck where they were three years ago.
For more on the Pirates' system, visit Bucs on Deck.
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THE ASYLUM
Anthony Murphy
5:59 pm - 12.18.2024Gordonsville, Va.Today's prospect: Hudson Head
After the 2019 draft, the Padres set a record when they signed prep outfielder Hudson Head for $3 million, the biggest bonus handed out to a player in the third round. The Pirates tied that mark a couple of years later after signing Bubba Chandler in 2021.
Head, 23, was included in the Joe Musgrove trade and spent 2021 in Bradenton, He had a high walk rate (15.7%) but hit for a low average and struck out over 30% of the time.
Despite that, he was pushed to Greensboro in 2022 and has been stuck there since then. He missed a chunk of the 2023 season with an injury but played over 100 games this past year. It was more of the same struggles, as Head batted .208/.303/.383 with 13 home runs and nine stolen bases. The home runs were good for sixth on the team, and he finished third in the South Atlantic League in triples. He also struck out over 30% of the time.
Head is an example of how trades work out sometimes. He was the big name included then, but it wound up being David Bednar. He played well defensively, which should help him as a depth piece, but the hitting issues seem stuck where they were three years ago.
For more on the Pirates' system, visit Bucs on Deck.
Want to participate in our comments?
Want an ad-free experience?
Become a member, and enjoy premium benefits! Make your voice heard on the Steelers, Penguins and Pirates, and hear right back from tens of thousands of fellow Pittsburgh sports fans worldwide! Plus, access all our premium content, including Dejan Kovacevic columns, Friday Insider, daily Live Qs with the staff, more! And yeah, that's right, no ads at all!
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