The Pittsburgh Pirates made 21 selections in the 2025 MLB Draft, blending high-upside prep talent with experienced college performers across the diamond. From power-hitting catchers to towering right-handed arms, the draft class appears to be a nice haul of prospects.
Seth Hernandez
Position: Right-handed pitcher
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 190 pounds
Affiliation: Corona High School (Corona, California)
Seth Hernandez was selected with the sixth overall pick by the Pirates in the first round of the 2025 MLB Draft. At 19 years old, he dominated his senior season at Corona High School, posting a 0.39 ERA with 105 strikeouts over 53.2 innings. The 6-foot-4, 190-pound hurler features a mid-90s fastball, a sharp curveball and a projectable changeup—tools that earned him Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year honors. Pittsburgh’s scouting department praised his athleticism, competitiveness and pitchability, projecting him as a future frontline starter for the organization.
Angel Cervantes
Position: Right-handed pitcher
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 195 pounds
Affiliation: Earl Warren High School (Downey, California)
Angel Cervantes was taken in the second round with the 50th overall pick. The 17-year-old high school senior from Earl Warren High School features a four-pitch mix led by a low-90s fastball and a changeup that scouts grade as his best offering. Cervantes is noted for his ability to spin breaking balls and maintain command, making him a polished prep arm despite his youth. He enters professional baseball with a commitment to UCLA but is expected to sign and begin his development in Pittsburgh’s system.
Murf Gray
Position: Third baseman
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 230 pounds
Affiliation: Fresno State University
Selected in Competitive Balance Round B at No. 73, Murf Gray brings power and production to the corner infield. In 2025, the 21-year-old slashed .324/.398/.639 with 18 home runs and earned Mountain West Conference Player of the Year honors. Scouts project his strong arm will keep him at third base initially, though his lack of foot speed could lead to a move to first base or corner outfield in the future. Gray’s back-to-back conference tournament MVP awards highlight his penchant for performing in big moments for Fresno State’s program.
Easton Carmichael
Position: Catcher
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 200 pounds
Affiliation: University of Oklahoma
With the 82nd overall pick in the third round, the Pirates selected Easton Carmichael, a quintessential power-hitting backstop. Carmichael led Oklahoma in batting average (.329), slugging percentage (.613), hits (80), RBI (62) and home runs (17) in 2025, earning first-team All-American honors. He also impressed in wood-bat summer leagues, winning Cape Cod League All-Star Game MVP. At 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, Carmichael combines offensive upside with the ability to manage a pitching staff, making him one of the top catching prospects in the college ranks.
Gustavo Melendez
Position: Shortstop
Height: 5-foot-8
Weight: 160 pounds
Affiliation: Colegio Nuestra Señora de la Merced (Cayey, Puerto Rico)
Gustavo Melendez was selected 113th overall in the fourth round, becoming the first Puerto Rican player taken by the Pirates in 2025. The 17-year-old left-handed hitter showcased surprising pop, drawing comparisons to Ozzie Albies for his line-drive swing and ability to hit for both average and power. Melendez is a strong defender with the arm and instincts to stay at shortstop, though he may move to second base long-term. Currently committed to Wake Forest, he projects as an advanced bat who can rise quickly through the minor-league system.
Adonys Guzman
Position: Catcher
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 221 pounds
Affiliation: University of Arizona
Taken 144th overall in the fifth round, Adonys Guzman had a breakout season for the Wildcats, slashing .328/.411/.496 with nine home runs and handling a top-flight Arizona pitching staff. Scouts rave about his plus arm and receiving prowess behind the plate. At 5-foot-11 and 221 pounds, Guzman blends power, discipline and defensive skill, earning College World Series All-Tournament Team honors. He is the second catcher drafted by the Pirates in 2025, joining Easton Carmichael as a pillar of their backstop plans.
Jack Anker
Position: Right-handed pitcher
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 200 pounds
Affiliation: Fresno State University
With the 178th overall pick in the sixth round, the Pirates added Jack Anker—a strike-throwing workhorse from Fresno State. Anker posted a 9-5 record with a 5.98 ERA, striking out 109 batters over 96.1 innings in 2025. Scouts value his command of a mid-90s fastball, curveball and changeup, projecting him as a back-end rotation starter. He earned All-Mountain West Conference First Team honors, showcasing his ability to win games and maintain consistency over a heavy workload.
Brent Iredale
Position: Third baseman
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 200 pounds
Affiliation: University of Arkansas (transfer from New Mexico JC)
Selected 203rd overall in the seventh round, Brent Iredale brings prodigious power and run-producing ability to Pittsburgh’s corner infield. The Australian native slashed .286/.450/.544 with 14 home runs and 57 RBI for Arkansas in 2025 after hitting 42 homers and stealing 40 bases in junior college. At 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, Iredale combines power to all fields with developing defensive instincts at third base. Scouts project his long-term position will depend on his range, but his raw strength makes him a potent offensive prospect.
Josh Tate
Position: Outfielder
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 178 pounds
Affiliation: Georgia Southern University
Josh Tate was the Pirates’ eighth-round selection at No. 233 overall, adding a high-contact, high-on-base leadoff bat. Tate led the Sun Belt Conference with a .362 average and posted a 1.042 OPS in 59 games for Georgia Southern. He is praised for plus speed in center field and strong defensive instincts. At 5-foot-11 and 178 pounds, Tate projects as a top-of-the-order spark plug with the ability to pile up hits and utilize his range in the outfield.
Jared Jones
Position: First baseman
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 246 pounds
Affiliation: Louisiana State University (LSU)
Taken 263rd overall in the ninth round, Jared Jones shares his name but not his position with a Pirates pitcher. The 6-foot-4, 246-pound slugger hit .323/.414/.613 with 22 home runs and 76 RBI to power LSU to its ninth national championship in 2025. Jones combines immense raw power with advanced plate discipline, drawing walks and driving pitches to all fields. He earned Second Team All-SEC and College World Series All-Tournament Team honors, cementing his status as one of the top power bats in the draft class6.
Matt King
Position: Shortstop
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 195 pounds
Affiliation: Arizona State University (transfer from UTSA)
Selected 293rd overall in the 10th round, Matt King emerged as a high-average, high-OBP middle infielder. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound switch-hitter slashed .403/.464/.593 in his senior season for Arizona State after transferring from UTSA, earning Big 12 Co-Newcomer of the Year honors. Scouts value his advanced hitting approach, defensive reliability and athleticism. King profiles as a near-major-league ready shortstop with the potential to stick at the position into the upper levels of the Pirate system.
Dylan Palmer
Position: Second baseman
Height: 5-foot-9
Weight: 170 pounds
Affiliation: Hofstra University
Taken 323rd overall in the 11th round, Dylan Palmer brings contact ability and speed to the Pirate infield. The 5-foot-9, 170-pound senior led Hofstra with a .400 average, set a school record with seven triples, and stole 32 bases in 2025. He earned First Team All-CAA honors and played multiple positions, showcasing versatile defensive utility. Palmer’s high-contact profile and baserunning instincts give him a chance to rise quickly as a offensive catalyst in the minors.
Cameron Keshock
Position: Right-handed pitcher
Height: 6-foot-7
Weight: 225 pounds
Affiliation: Samford University
With the 353rd overall pick in the 12th round, the Pirates added a projectable southpaw in Cameron Keshock. The 21-year-old junior posted a 5-4 record with a 5.73 ERA and 74 strikeouts over 77 innings for Samford in 2025. At 6-foot-7 and 225 pounds, Keshock’s towering frame and three-pitch mix—fastball, curveball and changeup—offer significant projection. Scouts believe added refinement on his slider and command will unlock front-end starter potential.
Dylan Mathiesen
Position: Right-handed pitcher
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 195 pounds
Affiliation: Liberty University
Selected 383rd overall in the 13th round, Dylan Mathiesen returns home to Pittsburgh after starring for Liberty. The Coraopolis native went 2-4 with a 5.07 ERA, 84 strikeouts and 31 walks over 65.2 innings as a junior for the Flames in 2025. At 5-foot-10 and 195 pounds, Mathiesen mixes a mid-90s fastball with a mid-80s slider and changeup. He led the conference in starts and ranks among the top strikeout pitchers in Conference USA, earning attention from his hometown club.
Connor Hamilton
Position: Right-handed pitcher
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 205 pounds
Affiliation: Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville, Tennessee)
Taken 413th overall in the 14th round, Connor Hamilton is a high-school senior committed to Vanderbilt. The Toronto native was Perfect Game’s No. 191 overall prospect, boasting a fastball that touches 96 mph and a three-pitch mix. At 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, Hamilton’s projectable frame and college-level polish made him an attractive pick for the Pirates’ development program. He competed at the MLB Draft Combine, solidifying his status as one of Tennessee’s top prep arms.
McLane Moody
Position: Right-handed pitcher
Height: 6-foot-7
Weight: 210 pounds
Affiliation: Northside Senior High School (Fort Smith, Arkansas)
With the 443rd overall pick in the 15th round, the Pirates drafted McLane Moody—a four-sport athlete from Fort Smith. The 6-foot-7, 210-pound senior sat mid-90s with his fastball and ranks among Arkansas prep leaders in velocity. Moody has committed to the University of Arkansas but holds a strong projection as a power arm. His decision will hinge on signing bonus and developmental fit, with Pittsburgh’s program offering an accelerated path for hard-throwing high-school pitchers.
Eddie King Jr.
Position: Outfielder
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 220 pounds
Affiliation: University of Louisville
Selected 473rd overall in the 16th round, Eddie King Jr. had one of the most productive seasons in Louisville history. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound outfielder slashed .367/.435/.750 with 17 home runs, 63 RBI and College World Series All-Tournament honors in 2025. He demonstrated clutch performance in the NCAA Tournament, earning MVP of the Nashville Regional. King’s combination of power, run production and polished defense in right field makes him a coveted late-round find for the Pirates.
Carter Gwost
Position: Outfielder
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 215 pounds
Affiliation: Little Falls High School (Minnesota)
Taken 503rd overall in the 17th round, Carter Gwost is a high-school senior committed to Nebraska. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound left-handed hitter batted .444 with nine home runs in his senior season at Little Falls High School. Gwost’s advanced power and projectable frame earned him MSHSBCA 3A Player of the Year honors in Minnesota. He adds corner-outfield depth to the Pirates’ farm system with a stroke built for extra-base production.
Canon Reeder
Position: Outfielder
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 188 pounds
Affiliation: Oregon State University
Selected 533rd overall in the 18th round, Canon Reeder brings athleticism and defensive polish to center field. The 6-foot, 188-pound junior slashed .293/.402/.489 with eight home runs and 37 RBI for the Beavers in 2025, helping Oregon State reach its eighth College World Series. He started 53 of 55 games and posted a .992 fielding percentage. Reeder’s blend of modest power, contact ability and range in center field gives Pittsburgh a versatile outfield prospect with upside at the plate and on defense.
Brandon Cain
Position: Outfielder (projected pitcher)
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 175 pounds
Affiliation: University of Oklahoma (transfer from Mississippi Gulf Coast CC)
In a surprise 19th-round move at pick No. 563, the Pirates selected Brandon Cain—a relation of former MLB outfielder Lorenzo Cain—intending to convert him from outfielder to pitcher. Standing 6-foot and 175 pounds, Cain’s fastball has been clocked as high as 99 mph during showcases. He posted a 1.86 ERA with 9.03 strikeouts per nine innings in a summer league stint, showing advanced arm talent. Brandon’s athletic pedigree and velocity give Pittsburgh confidence in a late-round developmental gamble for their pitching pipeline.
Nick Frusco
Position: Left-handed pitcher
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 208 pounds
Affiliation: Miller Place High School (New York)
Closing the draft with the 593rd pick, Pittsburgh selected southpaw Nick Frusco, a Clemson recruit known for his deceptive delivery. At 6-foot-4 and 208 pounds, Frusco features an upper-80s fastball that touched 91–92 mph at the Combine, plus a developing slider and changeup. His projectable frame and status as MLB.com’s No. 249 rated prep left-hander make him a candidate to grow into a power bullpen arm. Frusco’s collegiate commitment gives the Pirates both leverage and time to refine his mechanics and pitch mix.
(photo courtesy of Fresno State Athletics)