North Shore Nine: A Pittsburgh Pirates Podcast

Pirates director of amateur scouting Justin Horowitz joins North Shore Nine to break down the 2025 draft and the philosophy driving Pittsburgh’s pipeline. He explains why the draft is “our Super Bowl,” details the conviction behind selecting Konnor Griffin, and unpacks how Seth Hernandez fell to No. 6—covering the traits the Pirates prioritize (athleticism, repeatable delivery, strike-throwing, decision quality) and how PD/R&D fold into every pick.

Horowitz also discusses Angel Cervantes’ decision to attend UCLA and what the protected 2026 comp pick (#51) means, plus late-round value plays (hello, LSU masher Jared Jones). Inside the room: board prep vs. day-of chaos, bonus-pool math, who makes the final call, and why drafting for “need” isn’t the strategy. He closes with thoughts on MLB Pipeline’s #2 draft ranking and a very Pittsburgh take on French fries.

If you enjoy Pirates draft/development talk, like & subscribe, drop your questions in the comments, and catch our full library at northshorenine.com.

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