The Pittsburgh Pirates entered the 2026 MLB Draft with another opportunity to strengthen an already talented minor-league system. Pittsburgh began its draft by selecting one of the most accomplished hitters in the class, LSU outfielder Derek Curiel, before adding athletic defenders, high-contact bats and a long list of pitchers from the college and high school levels.
The Pirates made 21 selections during the two-day draft. Four of their first five picks were position players, but the strategy changed quickly on the second day when Pittsburgh selected pitchers with 11 of its final 16 choices. The Pirates also traded the No. 34 Competitive Balance selection to the Chicago White Sox as part of the deal that brought Jacob Gonzalez and left-handed reliever Brandon Eisert to Pittsburgh.
Here is Sportsvival’s look at the Pittsburgh Pirates’ complete 2026 MLB Draft class.
1) Round One, Pick No. 5: OF Derek Curiel, LSU
Curiel immediately becomes one of the most polished offensive players in the Pirates’ system. The left-handed hitter controls the strike zone, makes consistent contact and has the speed and instincts to remain in center field, although his future power development will determine his ultimate ceiling.
2) Round Two, Pick No. 44: SS Aiden Ruiz, The Stony Brook School
Ruiz may have been the best defensive shortstop available in the draft, displaying excellent hands, range, footwork and arm strength. The switch-hitter makes consistent contact but will need to add strength to become a more dangerous offensive player.
3) Round Two, Pick No. 51: 2B Chris Rembert, Auburn
Rembert brings impressive bat speed and an advanced approach built around hard contact to every part of the field. He may not become a major home-run threat, but his hitting ability and steady defense give him a chance to develop into an everyday second baseman.
4) Round Three, Pick No. 80: RHP Jason DeCaro, North Carolina
DeCaro went 11-3 with a 2.87 ERA and 99 strikeouts over 97.1 innings for North Carolina. He does not overpower hitters with elite velocity, but his command, durability and advanced ability to sequence pitches give him a chance to remain a professional starter.
5) Round Four, Pick No. 108: OF Andruw Giles, Basic Academy
Giles is a strong, compact left-handed hitter with promising raw power and the ability to drive the baseball to every part of the field. His future may eventually be in an outfield corner, and Pittsburgh will need to sign him away from his commitment to Oregon.
6) Round Five, Pick No. 140: LHP Ryan Marohn, North Carolina State
Marohn went 6-1 with a 3.18 ERA and 62 strikeouts over 45.1 innings during the 2026 season. His changeup is his best offering, and his ability to miss bats could allow him to develop as either a starter or multi-inning reliever.
7) Round Six, Pick No. 169: RHP Tyler Fay, Alabama
Fay was Alabama’s top weekend starter, finishing with an 11-5 record and 127 strikeouts against only 26 walks. His slider, command and four-pitch arsenal could help him move steadily through the Pirates’ minor-league system.
8) Round Seven, Pick No. 198: RHP Bryson Moore, Florida State
Moore went 6-2 with a 3.86 ERA over 14 starts after transferring from Virginia to Florida State. His fastball can reach 96 miles per hour, and his deep pitch mix gives the Pirates the option of developing him as either a starter or reliever.
9) Round Eight, Pick No. 228: RHP Alex Overbay, Arizona State
The son of former Pirates first baseman Lyle Overbay, Alex established himself as a hard-throwing college reliever. His fastball can reach the upper 90s, and he could move quickly if Pittsburgh can improve his command and consistency.
10) Round Nine, Pick No. 258: 3B Tre Phelps, Georgia
Phelps may become one of the best value selections in Pittsburgh’s draft after hitting .348 with 19 home runs and a 1.096 OPS. His long-term defensive position remains uncertain, but his power gives him a chance to outperform his ninth-round status.
11) Round 10, Pick No. 288: RHP Michael Gibson, The Citadel
Gibson struck out 73 batters over 53 innings while making 21 appearances for The Citadel. His low-90s fastball and swing-and-miss slider give him potential as a bullpen arm if the Pirates can improve his command.
12) Round 11, Pick No. 318: LHP Spencer Evans, TNXL Academy
Evans is a projectable high school left-hander whose fastball has already reached 95 to 96 miles per hour. He also throws a slider and changeup, but the Pirates will need to convince him to sign instead of honoring his commitment to LSU.
13) Round 12, Pick No. 348: RHP Rohan Lettow, San Diego State
Lettow went 6-1 with a 3.79 ERA and 92 strikeouts over 78.1 innings after moving into the San Diego State rotation. He offers Pittsburgh a relatively young college pitcher with starting experience and room for continued development.
14) Round 13, Pick No. 378: RHP Griffin Stieg, Virginia Tech
Stieg is a massive right-hander who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs approximately 280 pounds. His college career was affected by injuries and inconsistency, but his two-seam fastball, slider and changeup give the Pirates an interesting developmental project.
15) Round 14, Pick No. 408: RHP Damarcus Rideout-Carter, Heart Lake Secondary School
Rideout-Carter is a projectable Canadian pitcher with a 6-foot-3 frame and plenty of room to become stronger. His arsenal is currently built around a fastball and slider, giving Pittsburgh a young arm it can develop from the ground up.
16) Round 15, Pick No. 438: RHP Liam O’Leary, St. John’s
O’Leary went 8-5 with a 3.64 ERA over 108.2 innings, providing St. John’s with durability and consistency. His four-pitch arsenal and experience handling a starter’s workload could make him a dependable organizational arm.
17) Round 16, Pick No. 468: RHP Grant Govel, USC
Govel went 10-3 with a 2.87 ERA, a 0.90 WHIP and 99 strikeouts against only 16 walks for USC. His changeup is his best pitch, and his combination of command and a deep arsenal makes him an intriguing late-round selection.
18) Round 17, Pick No. 498: RHP Nathan Helman, Kennesaw State
Helman worked primarily out of the Kennesaw State bullpen and struck out 40 batters over 31 innings in 2026. At 6-foot-4, he offers the Pirates size, relief experience and the potential to develop into a power bullpen option.
19) Round 18, Pick No. 528: OF Malachi Washington, Parkview High School
Washington was one of Pittsburgh’s biggest upside swings of the final rounds, bringing power potential, speed and defensive ability. He was ranked much higher than his eventual draft position, but the Pirates will have to sign him away from LSU.
20) Round 19, Pick No. 558: OF Andrew Duncan, Wright State
Duncan hit .367 with a 1.012 OPS, eight triples, six home runs and 19 stolen bases for Wright State. His combination of contact ability, speed and gap power makes him an interesting late-round offensive prospect.
21) Round 20, Pick No. 588: LHP Dakota Stone, North Florida
Stone finished Pittsburgh’s draft after going 7-3 with a 2.85 ERA and 102 strikeouts over 79 innings. His ability to miss bats from the left side could give him an opportunity as either a starter or future bullpen option.
Final Thoughts
The Pirates’ 2026 draft was built around two clear ideas. Pittsburgh wanted athletic position players with strong contact skills early, and it wanted to add as much pitching depth as possible during the later rounds.
Curiel is the centerpiece and immediately gives the organization another advanced young hitter to place alongside Konnor Griffin and the other talented position players moving through the system. Ruiz could become an elite defensive shortstop, Rembert brings an advanced bat, and Phelps has the power to become a major late-round value.
The success of the class may ultimately depend on how many of the high school prospects sign. Evans and Washington were both ranked much higher than where they were selected, while Giles and Rideout-Carter offer additional long-term upside. Not every one of Pittsburgh’s 21 selections will reach PNC Park, but the Pirates gave themselves plenty of different paths to find future Major League contributors.
As Sportsvival has said throughout its yearlong draft coverage, the draft is only the beginning. Now it will be up to the Pirates’ development staff to turn this collection of talented hitters, defenders and pitchers into the next wave of players capable of helping Pittsburgh win.