Pittsburgh Pirates
· 2026-07-03
The Pittsburgh Pirates are set to make their pick in the MLB Draft on July 11, holding the No. 5 overall selection.
The Pirates have a history of selecting top talent, including right-handed pitcher Paul Skenes and shortstop Konnor Griffin.
They are considering several players, including Oak Grove High School outfielder Eric Booth Jr.
Booth is a left-handed hitter with 70-grade speed and impressive power, as evidenced by his win in the Home Run Derby at the 2025 Perfect Game All-American Classic.
He needs work on his base stealing and routes in center field, but has improved his arm strength.
The Pirates are also looking at UC Santa Barbara right-hander Jackson Flora, who was 12-0 with a 1.06 ERA and 133 strikeouts in 102 innings this past season.
The Pirates have been successful with their recent draft picks, and draft analyst Jonathan Mayo of MLB Pipeline believes they will continue to pick the best player available.
This strategy has worked out well for the Pirates, with Skenes winning the Cy Young award last year and Griffin entering the season as baseball's consensus top prospect.
The Pirates are currently 10th in the National League with a 44-44 record, having won their last game 1-6 against the Philadelphia Phillies on July 2.
The Pirates are looking to build on their recent success and make a push for the playoffs.
With the right draft pick, they could add a key player to their roster and improve their chances of making a deep run in the postseason.
And with their current standing, the Pirates are still in contention for a playoff spot.
But they will need to continue to play well and make smart decisions in the draft to achieve their goals.
So the Pirates are focused on making the most of their draft pick and building a strong team for the future.
The Pirates' recent success is a testament to their strong scouting and drafting, and they will look to continue this trend in the upcoming draft.