Pirates Pick Cary-Grove's Priester In MLB Draft's First Round

CARY, IL — Nearly two weeks after graduating from high school, Cary-Grove's starting pitcher Quinn Priester was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates Monday as the 18th pick in the first round of the 2019 MLB Draft. According to a team report, the right-handed pitcher was the team's first of four picks on day one of the draft.

Priester, a 6'3' and 198-pound athletic pitcher has a "big fastball" that can't be missed. He was also a star wide receiver and defensive back for the high school's state championship football team, and his multi-sport background stood out to Pirates General Manager Neal Huntington, according to a report by Adam Berry, MLB and Pirates beat reporter.

“It factored from the standpoint of he had body movements, baseball athleticism that translated with his pure athleticism," senior director of amateur scouting Joe DelliCarri said in the report. “You could see that watching him pitch. There’s athleticism in how he does things on the mound.”

In addition to being excited about joining the Pirates organization, Priester said he had an opportunity to be a two-sport athlete at Northwestern University, but committed to Texas Christian University, according to a Berry. However, Priester added that nothing is set in stone.

>> Read more via mlb.com/pirates

What’s up Pittsburgh!! #LetsGoBucs https://t.co/ew0FQVInr9
— Quinn Priester (@QuinnPriester) June 4, 2019

#proud https://t.co/8xBNwrvhAk
— Cary-Grove Baseball (@cgtrojanbasebal) June 4, 2019