12. Charles McAdoo
3B / OF
Ht: 6'2" | Wt: 210 | B-T: R-R
Age: null
BA Grade: 45/High
Track Record: McAdoo enjoyed a productive three-year college career in the Mountain West Conference with San Jose State, even going 2-for-4 with a double against future Pirates No. 1 overall pick Paul Skenes when the righthander was still at Air Force in 2022. The Pirates drafted McAdoo to far less fanfare in 2023 and signed him to a $150,000 bonus in the 13th round. He has exceeded expectations. McAdoo hit .332 with 11 homers for Low-A Bradenton that year, then barnstormed High-A pitching to open 2024, slashing .336/.415/.561 with nine homers for Greensboro before a midseason promotion to Double-A Altoona. McAdoo is a distant cousin of NBA Hall of Famer Bob McAdoo.
Scouting Report: McAdoo greets pitchers with a closed stance and healthy bat waggle. He’s a bit less upright since entering pro ball and has shown more feel for contact and adjustability than perhaps previously expected. So far in 2024, the physically strong McAdoo has shown a good blend of contact ability, pitch recognition and swing decisions to go along with above-average 90th percentile exit velocity and bat speed. Finding a long-term defensive home is still more of an open-ended question. A second baseman in college, McAdoo has played mostly third base so far in 2024. His hands have impressed the Pirates, but he has just an average arm and mobility, leading some to wonder whether he’s better suited for a corner outfield position.
The Future: A productive bat quickly propelled McAdoo to the upper minors and onto the Pirates’ radar. Now, he must sustain his gains away from hitter-friendly Greensboro and solidify his defensive home as he chases the ceiling of a second-division regular.
Scouting Grades: Hitting: 50 | Power: 50 | Speed: 45 | Fielding: 45 | Arm: 45