Breaking Down Every Pirates Pick From the 2026 MLB Draft

The Pittsburgh Pirates completed the 2026 MLB Draft with 21 selections, led by LSU outfielder Derek Curiel at No. 5 overall. Baseball America’s Carlos Collazo said it might be his favorite draft of the year, but what made Pittsburgh’s class stand out?

Jim breaks down every selection, what each player does well, the biggest concern and what the Pirates appear to be betting on in development. The class began with contact, defense and strong offensive foundations in Curiel, Aiden Ruiz, Chris Rembert and Andruw Giles before shifting heavily toward pitching.

We also discuss Jason DeCaro, Tre Phelps, Spencer Evans, Grant Govel, Malachi Washington and the rest of Pittsburgh’s 2026 draft class.

Did the Pirates land one of the best classes in baseball, and which player outside Curiel are you most interested in following?

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0:00 Intro
1:12 Why This Draft Is Getting Praise
2:27 Derek Curiel
3:51 Aiden Ruiz
5:12 Chris Rembert
5:58 Jason DeCaro
6:51 Andruw Giles
7:34 Ryan Marone
8:31 Tyler Fay
9:16 Bryson Moore
9:52 Alex Overbay
10:35 Tre Phelps
11:47 Michael Gibson
12:46 IQ Bar
14:11 Second-Half Draft Strategy
14:22 Spencer Evans
15:35 Rowan Leto
16:06 Griffin Stieg
16:39 Damarcus Rideout-Carter
17:10 Liam O’Leary
17:39 Grant Govel
18:28 Nate Hellman
19:19 Malachi Washington
20:21 Andrew Duncan
21:00 Dakota Stone
21:45 Overall Draft Takeaways
24:09 Which Pick Are You Watching?

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