‘Gut feeling’ true as MSU’s Jebb lands with Pirates
After a pre-draft workout with the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park in early June, Mitch Jebb had a gut feeling.
The Michigan State shortstop and Saginaw native figured then that could be the organization where his professional baseball dreams could be realized.
And the validation to that gut feeling came Sunday night when Jebb was selected by the Pirates in the second round of the Major League Baseball draft with the No. 42 overall pick.
“I hit really well there,” Jebb said. “It just played out how I wanted it to.”
The Pirates made Jebb the highest Spartan draft pick since Mark Mulder was selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the opening round of the 1998 draft. Jebb said there was a rush of excitement when he got the call from the Pirates at home in Saginaw.
“Obviously I wanted to be picked as high as possible,” Jebb said. “I also wanted to go to a team that really wants me and Pittsburgh showed a lot of interest early on and I like it there. I like the stadium, I like everything about it. I like the front office, I like it all. I couldn’t be blessed with an opportunity more than to go to Pittsburgh.”
Jebb, who was the second player taken by the Pirates in this year’s draft following their selection of LSU pitcher Paul Skenes with the No. 1 overall pick, expects to find a home as a middle infielder for Pittsburgh. But the 6foot-1 Jebb is also willing to play elsewhere if that’s where the Pirates believe he fits best.
“That’s their decision on what they want to do with me,” said Jebb, who hit .337 with 15 doubles, seven triples, a home run and 32 RBIs in 50 games this year as a junior. “My goal is to make it up there and play as long as possible. If they need me in the outfield, I’ll go to the outfield. If they need me at second, I’ll go to second. I’m not too picky with that.”
Jebb also understands his journey to one day calling PNC Park home is a process. As much as he would like to find his way to the big leagues at a quick pace, Jebb knows development is the focus.
“You’ve got to take every step to get there,” Jebb said. “You can’t just jump right up there. I only know what I know. I’m not sure what it takes. I’ve got to learn and develop and then eventually I’ll get there.”
Marlin selects MSU’s Vradenburg
Jebb was among two Spartans to get selected in the top 100 picks of the MLB draft. MSU first baseman Brock Vradenburg was drafted by the Miami Marlins in the third round with the No. 78 overall pick on Monday.
Vradenburg gave the Spartans two selections in the opening four rounds of the draft for the first time since 1982.
Jebb got word of Vradenburg being drafted while on a Zoom session with reporters
Monday afternoon.
“That’s awesome,” Jebb said. “I couldn’t be more proud of him. He’s a great guy, a great teammate. We’re in the same class.
“That relationship that we created at Michigan State is going to continue as we go on through pro ball and all that.”
The 6-foot-7 Vradenburg, who is from Pasadena, California, was a third team Collegiate Baseball All-American after hitting .400 with 22 doubles, four triples, 13 home runs and 69 RBIs.