2025 MLB Draft Pittsburgh Pirates

S. Samek

With the 2025 MLB All-Star game and home run derby happening it’s easy to forget they are also holding the MLB draft in the middle of it. Let’s take a look at the Pittsburgh Pirates and how they fared in the draft.

The first pick for the Pirates came at round one pick six. There they selected pitcher Seth Hernandez. The high-school pitcher was considered one of the top prospects heading into the draft and a bit of a surprise to see him still on the board by the time this pick came around.

It might be more of a best player avalible type of pick, but it’s the kind you can get excited about. Sure, they have a good bit of pitching in the minors already that are top prospects, but why not add one more. I’m just glad it’s not another shortstop.

Then at pick 50 in the second round they drafted pitcher Angel Cervantes another California high school arm. He was ranked basically at the spot he was drafted in so good value here.

Then at pick 73 they drafted Murf Gray a third baseman from Fresno State. Then with pick 82 they went with Easton Carmichael a catcher out of Oklahoma to cap off the first day selections.

Gustavo Melendez was then selected with pick 113 in the fourth round. He is a high school shortstop prospect.

Adonys Guzman, a catcher was selected in the fifth round with pick 144.

Jack Anker joins his teammate Gray being selected with 173rd pick in the sixth round.

Brent Iredale plays third and was selected out of Arkansas during round seven.

Josh Tate of Georgia Southern was taken in the eighth round and was the first outfielder selected by the Pirates.

In the ninth-round pick 263 saw the Pirates add another Jared Jones to the fold. This one play first base through and is being drafted out of LSU. He was Paul Skenes teammate in 2023 on the national championship winning team. It looks to be a good value pick as he is ranked 101 on the top draft prospects list, but was still on board this late.

In the 19th round they selected Matt King, a shortstop from Arizona State. Then in the 11th round they selected second baseman Dylan Palmer of Hofstra.

Cameron Keshock was added in the 12th round. Dylan Mathiesen was added in round 13. Connor Hamilton was selected in the 14th round and McLane Moody in the 15th round. All of them are pitchers.

Eddie King Jr., Carter Gwost and Canon Reeder were then all outfielders selected in the 16th, 17th and 18th rounds.

Brandon Cain and Nick Frusco were both pitchers selected with the 19th and 20th round picks. Frusco had quite a fall rated as the 249th best prospect on the top 250 list but fell all the way to the Pirates at pick 593. Could that be a sleeper pick, or a significant issue that he fell that far?

Overall, they selected the most pitchers out of the 21 picks with nine. They also added four outfielders, which is good to have some more of those into the system. Only adding two shortstops is nice, no need to go overboard there.

It looks to me like a decent draft and hopefully some new top 30 prospects come from the draft when they start signing. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for this draft class.