Last year, the Pittsburgh Pirates protected two position players from the Rule 5 Draft by adding them to their 40-man roster. They were infielder Jack Brannigan and outfielder Esmerlyn Valdez (which looks like a genius move with his outstanding rookie campaign). The Pirates will have to make some interesting choices once again this upcoming offseason (such as Jhonny Severino). However, another prospect that is making an interesting case for Rule 5 Draft protection is Mitch Jebb.
The Pirates drafted Jebb in the second round out of Michigan State in the 2023 draft. He was their second pick after they took Paul Skenes in the first round. Jebb has consistently shown a good eye at the plate, regularly striking out at a low percentage and walking at a healthy rate. That usually leads to a solid on-base percentage, and with his plus speed, he uses that to his full advantage. Although he missed nearly two months, Jebb has done nothing but hit when he has been able to take the field.
It has only been 178 plate appearances, but Jebb is batting .294/.376/.458 with a .371 wOBA and 118 wRC+. Jebb isn’t known for his power. He didn’t hit a single home run in 2025. However, he has already gone yard four times, all of which came in his 87-plate-appearance sample size at Triple-A Indianapolis. Jebb continues to strike out at a low rate of 16.8% and draw free passes at an 11.8% pace. He has also already stolen nine bases in 11 attempts over 40 games.
Jebb has a similar profile to Jake Mangum. A speedy, contact-oriented batter. However, Jebb has shown a much more patient approach throughout the minor leagues, one thing many have criticized Mangum for. Jebb has walked at least 11% of the time in each minor league season, including his 34-game sample size in late-2023. Mangum’s career minor league BB% was 6%, and he never walked at a rate higher than 6.9% in any minor league season.
Jebb has solely played center field this year. However, the Pirates drafted him as a middle infielder. Second base and shortstop were his primary positions in his first pro season in 2024, and he still logged over 200 innings at the keystone in 2025. There’s no doubt Jebb has the range to play any up-the-middle position.
The Pirates have taken larger risks than Jebb when it comes to adding players to the 40-man roster to protect them from the Rule 5 draft in the past. Brannigan also missed a large portion of the 2025 season, only playing in 67 games, and he struck out at a 34.6% rate. They also added minor league reliever Ryan Harbin to the 40-man roster last winter, who had a 16% walk rate in the minor leagues.
Another thing that does make Jebb’s case questionable is the already deep outfield depth the Pirates have. Oneil Cruz and Bryan Reynolds will return in 2028. Esmerlyn Valdez is a rookie. Jake Mangum has done well covering for Cruz’s absence. They also have Jhostynxon Garcia, and utility men like Jared Triolo, Tyler Callihan, Nick Yorke, and Billy Cook who can also play the outfield. However, Jebb’s speed, plate discipline he’s displayed in the minor leagues, and his ability to play the middle infield do make him stand out among those players.
Jebb’s case will be interesting. It would be hard for the Pirates to leave off a prospect who just hit .300, regularly draws walks at a frequent rate, and started to hit for more power, along with having the ability to play the outfield and infield, off their 40-man roster. While they may have plenty of outfielders and utility men, Jebb’s skillset could make him different from the other similar players that are on their roster already.
