Pirates sign first-round draft pick Quinn Priester
The Pittsburgh Pirates today announced they have signed right-handed pitcher Quinn Priester, the 18th overall selection in the 2019 First-Year Player Draft.
The announcement was made by Pirates Executive Vice President, General Manager Neal Huntington along with Senior Director of Scouting, Joe DelliCarri.
The 18-year-old Priester posted an 8-2 record, a 1.00 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 60.1 innings as a senior this year at Cary-Grove High School in Cary, Illinois. Priester was rated as the No. 1 draft prospect in the state of Illinois by Baseball America. He also became the first high school player from Illinois to be selected in the first round since Mike Foltynewicz in 2010.
Priester, who was named the 2019 Gatorade Player-of-the-Year for Illinois, was also ranked by MLBPipeline as the 19th-best prospect in the draft.
“Today we share in Quinn’s great enthusiasm in bringing him into the Pirates organization,” said DelliCarri.
“Quinn’s very high level of character, his competitive makeup, and abilities should serve him very well for years to come. Our development staff is already very excited to share in Quinn’s journey in becoming the best person and player he can become.”
Priester was named a Fox Valley All-Conference selection in baseball during his senior year.
He was also a two-sport athlete in high school, where he played wide receiver and defensive back on the football team that went 14-0 and won a Class 6A state championship in 2018.
Priester will begin his professional career with the Gulf Coast League Pirates.
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