The 2026 MLB Draft kicked off on Saturday, and the Pittsburgh Pirates find themselves in a familiar spot — holding the fifth overall selection.
Top Prospects on the Radar
Among the players projected to go in the first round, the top four names dominate early mock drafts: Roch Cholowsky, Vahn Lackey, Grady Emerson and Jacob Lombard.
Jackson Flora, a right‑handed pitcher from the University of Georgia, has drawn particular buzz after a junior season that produced a 1.06 ERA and 133 strikeouts. His fastball regularly hits triple digits, making him one of the most electrifying arms in the class.
Eric Booth Jr., a high‑school outfielder from Mississippi, posted a .481 batting average and stole 23 bases in his senior year. He is committed to Vanderbilt and scouts grade his 70‑point run tool as among the best in the nation.
Booth would become only the second prep position player the Pirates have drafted in the first round in the past three years, following the 2022 selection of Termarr Johnson. The club previously used the top pick in 2023 on college pitcher Paul Skenes, a move that paid immediate dividends.
If none of the top four names slip to the fifth slot, the Pirates are likely to consider either Flora or Booth, each of whom brings a distinct skill set that could shape the franchise’s next wave of talent.