Pittsburgh Pirates 2021 Draft Prospects: SS Jordan Lawler

While Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker have been dominating the Pirate's No. 1 Overall Draft pick talk in 2021, there is a high school shortstop that is starting to emerge. Jordan Lawler is one of the best high school players in the draft and is showing all the tools to be a top player in the Big Leagues someday.

When talking about who the Pittsburgh Pirates would take #1 overall in the 2021 MLB Draft, two names have always emerged. Vanderbilt pitchers Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter have each emerged as the front runners for the pick. However, when high school baseball resumed in 2021, there is now a high schooler who is putting his hat in the ring to be the #1 overall pick. Dallas Jesuit High School is home to one of the top high school players in the league. Shortstop Jordan Lawler has shown he can be a strong offensive weapon at the plate and has the speed to move all around the field. He missed out on his junior baseball season due to the pandemic but has come back strong during his senior season.

Ben Cherington showed his draft philosophy last season when he took the best available talent on the board by grabbing Nick Gonzales. If this theory holds true, Lawler is going to be a tough name to ignore at the #1 overall spot. While the Pirates have an influx of middle infielders already in their system, Lawler has the skills where he can move around the field if they need him to. Lawler has been playing baseball since he was five-years-old, and has been receiving college offers since he has been 14-years old. He got offers from Duke, TCU, Miami, and Michigan. However, he committed to play at Vanderbilt, a school that the Pirates have loved to draft from lately. However, being chosen #1 overall could deter him from going to college and have him jump right into pro ball. Today, we look at Lawler's high school career and see where he would fit in with the Pirates Minor League system.

Lawler: The Top High School Prospect

At every game and every practice at Jesuit Colleger Prepatory School, Major League Baseball scouts line the fences. They are all there to watch one player, and that player is Jordan Lawler. Lawler is a two-sport athlete at Jesuit College Prep, playing both football and baseball, but baseball is the one he takes to the most. His head coach Brian Jones said in an interview with San Antonio's Spectrum News 1 that Lawler's athletic ability is some of the best that he has ever seen. "In my 25 years of coaching, he is by far the fastest kid I have ever seen," said Jones. "Just his athletic ability alone is just off the charts." His offensive game alone is exciting, but when you put together all of his five tools, he really shapes up to be one of the best players in the draft.

During his senior year, he took off at the plate appearing in 24 games for Jesuit Dallas, hitting .397 with four home runs and 26 RBI according to Max Preps. Of his 27 hits during the season, 18 of them have gone for extra bases (nine doubles, three triples, and four home runs). He strikes out a little more than you would like to see with 11 strikeouts, but he has also shown great patience at the plate as well. He walked 13 times in 86 plate appearances for a walk rate of 15.6%. Once he does get on base, he is lethal on the base paths and causes havoc for opposing pitchers. He was a perfect 9-9 in stolen bases during his senior year and used his legs to take extra bases. However, if there is one part of his game that still needs some development, it is his glove 

According to Max Preps, Lawler had a fielding percentage of .815 in 81 total chances. As a shortstop, one of your most valuable traits is your defensive ability, so if Lawler wants to continue to be a shortstop he will have to get better at that. He made 15 errors in 81 total chances during his senior year, but luckily his speed lends him to move around if he needs to. He has some power and at 6'2, 183 pounds, he is a guy who could move out to the outfield if a team needed him to. Versatility is a big thing in the Pirates system, and if Lawler can play more than just the infield, he could turn into a valuable Major Leaguer in the Pirate or any other team's systems.

Where Lawler Fits With The Pirates

Even though the Pirates have a lot of middle infielders in their system, Lawler is still a player the Pirates can use. Anyone who can hit the ball consistently will find a place on the field. The big thing for Lawler will be showing that he can compete against some of the best players in the country. While hitting .397 in college is an impressive feat, but he is going to have to show he can do it at the professional ranks. A guy like Lawler is going to take longer to develop than a guy like Rocker and Leiter, but it could pay off with a longer career in the long run. While Rocker and Leiter are 21 years old, Lawler is just 19-years-old and by the time he reaches the Major League he will be that 21 or 22-year-old kid ready to help the Pirates now.

A guy like Lawler is a player who is going to be one of the draft prospects affected by the Minor League shift. Normally, a guy like Lawler would head down to Short-Season West Virginia and develop from there. However, with the recent shift, Lawler would more than likely begin his career in the rookie league with Gulf Coast League Pirates. This would give him a chance to play against players around his age and see how his stuff measures up. The good thing about this is that the GCL Pirates play in Pirate City, which is right next to Low-A Bradenton. This will allow those rookies to be able to start their careers whole playing right by the professional coaches in the Minor League system.

As for whether or not the Pirates should draft Lawler, I would tend to stay no unless the Pirates are willing to move positions. The Pirates already have several middle infield prospects that will be vying for roster spots. However, given Lawler's speed, he is a guy who has the ability to mice to the outfield and would probably do that if given the opportunity. The other thing to consider is when the Pirates want to be competitive again. With Lawler, he won't be impacting the team for another four or five years, putting him in the Big Leagues by the 2025 or 2026 season. However, if the Pirates want to compete quicker, they may want to pass on Lawler and chose another prospect on the board.

The Pittsburgh Pirates (12-15) kick-off a three-game series with the San Diego Padres (16-13) tonight at 10:10 pm. Tyler Anderson (2-2, 3.38) looks to remain consistent on the mound for the Pirates against Miguel Diaz (0-0, -.--) for the Padres. You can watch the game on AT&T Sportsnet or listen on 93.7 The Fan.

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