Is there any chance we could draft a starting pitcher like Jackson Flora?
I agree with the general philosophy that you should take the best player available regardless of position. However, if the difference between the players at, say, No. 3 and No. 4 on the draft board is relatively small, I wonder whether it makes sense to take organizational needs into account.
And if there's one position this organization desperately needs, it's probably starting pitching.
I live on the other side of the world, so I've never seen any of these prospects play in person. All I can do is read scouting reports, so I'm not really in a position to evaluate them myself. But if given the choice, I'd rather come away with a potential starting pitcher than another catcher or shortstop.
Looking at recent drafts, many of the college starters taken near the top have reached the majors within two years:
2022: Cade Horton
2023: Rhett Lowder (and of course, Paul Skenes goes without saying)
2024: Chase Burns
I'm not particularly confident that our pitching staff is going to be in great shape by 2028, which is why I keep wondering whether taking a starting pitcher in this draft might be the right move.
Sorry for my poor English, but I hope my point comes across.