With their first pick of Day 2 -- No. 113 overall -- the Pirates selected shortstop Gustavo Melendez from Puerto Rico and they weren't deterred by his size.
Melendez, 17, a Wake Forest commit, stands at 5-8, 160 pounds and is the top Puerto Rican prospect in this year's draft.
"He's not the biggest kid in the world, I'll tell you guys that right now, but the kid can hit. Natural feel, he's got a good swing," Justin Horowitz said. "Defensively, he's got a good little glove, too. He can bounce around the dirt, play a variety of different positions. We're excited with what he's going to be able to do. Just give him time. Don't just look at the frame. Watch him play. I think he's going to grow on a lot of people."
Melendez has been compared to Ozzie Albies, but he has less power. He was ranked at No. 123 by MLB Pipeline and No. 140 by Baseball America. He's played for Team USA and Puerto Rico national teams in the past and has some interesting tools. With a quick release and a strong arm, Melendez could stick at shortstop for the Pirates, but a move to second base seems possible as well.
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THE ASYLUM
Greg Macafee
3:42 pm - 07.14.2025DOWNTOWNWith their first pick of Day 2 -- No. 113 overall -- the Pirates selected shortstop Gustavo Melendez from Puerto Rico and they weren't deterred by his size.
Melendez, 17, a Wake Forest commit, stands at 5-8, 160 pounds and is the top Puerto Rican prospect in this year's draft.
"He's not the biggest kid in the world, I'll tell you guys that right now, but the kid can hit. Natural feel, he's got a good swing," Justin Horowitz said. "Defensively, he's got a good little glove, too. He can bounce around the dirt, play a variety of different positions. We're excited with what he's going to be able to do. Just give him time. Don't just look at the frame. Watch him play. I think he's going to grow on a lot of people."
Melendez has been compared to Ozzie Albies, but he has less power. He was ranked at No. 123 by MLB Pipeline and No. 140 by Baseball America. He's played for Team USA and Puerto Rico national teams in the past and has some interesting tools. With a quick release and a strong arm, Melendez could stick at shortstop for the Pirates, but a move to second base seems possible as well.
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