Ranking the 5 best options for the Pirates' 2025 first-round pick

The MLB Draft begins tonight. A fleet of the nation's best high school and college players will officially begin their journeys toward making their dreams of becoming a Major League Baseball player a reality. The Pittsburgh Pirates will have the sixth overall selection in the draft. They’ll likely have a wide swath of the top players still available, given their early pick. However, there are definitely some top draft prospects they should prioritize over others.

Ranking the 5 best option for the Pittsburgh Pirates' first pick in 2025 MLB Draft

5. Seth Hernandez

More than one recent mock draft has the Pirates taking Seth Hernandez. The high school right-hander is a very talented pitcher. His four-seam fastball can hit the triple-digits, and he has a curveball that tops out with about 3000 RPM of spin. His curve isn’t even his best secondary, either, as his changeup is another offering with double-plus potential. Finally, there’s his slider, which is an above-average pitch. On top of that, he can throw all his pitches with decent control.

Hernandez is highly talented. However, while he may be the best high school pitcher by a wide margin in this year’s draft class, and prioritizing need over potential usually isn’t a great idea, the Pirates should not prioritize high school pitching this time around. They have plenty of young arms, and Hernandez likely won’t be ready for at least two or three seasons. There is also a decent chance Hernandez goes earlier than the sixth overall pick. MLB Pipeline and Baseball America both rank Hernandez as a top-three draft talent. He could go off the board before Louisiana State right-hander Kade Anderson. 

The one thing that does make Hernandez a fit for the Pirates is the fact that they’ve seemingly figured out a way to develop decent pitching more easily than any other attribute. The Pirates have one of the deepest farm systems when it comes to hurlers. Playing into this strength may not be a bad idea, especially given how talented Hernandez is. He could make the major leagues much sooner than expected, given his talent.

4. Liam Doyle 

Liam Doyle is the second-best left-hander in this year’s draft class. Doyle finished out his time at Tennessee, working to a 3.20 ERA and striking out 42.6% of opponents, while only handing out a walk 8.3% of the time. The last college pitcher with a K% over 40% the Pirates drafted in the first round was Paul Skenes, who had a 45.2% K% in his last year at LSU. Doyle can hit 100 MPH and mixes in a slider, cutter, or changeup. His four-seamer is one of the best in the draft class, and his other offerings project as average to above-average. His control, however, is his weakest link, but it at least projects as average.

But like with Hernandez, the Pirates do not need to focus on pitching with their first-round pick. They have so much pitching already. Doyle would at least have a leg up on Hernandez in terms of how far both are from the major leagues. Unless the Pirates are committed to moving some pitching prospects already in the system at the deadline for bats, Doyle doesn’t make as much sense as some other potential draft picks for the Pirates.

If the Pirates did draft Doyle, they would be heavily playing into their ability to develop a pitcher. Doyle is the second-best college pitcher in the draft behind Anderson. He turned 21 in June, but his stuff is some of the best in this year’s draft class. Although he is younger, his talent could carry him through the minor leagues quickly, and he could potentially make his MLB debut by the end of next season.

3. Eli Willits

The Pirates need position player talent, and if they want the draft's best behind Ethan Holliday, then they should go with Eli Willits, if he is available. Willits is a potential five-tool player. He is a plus runner with the tools to stick at shortstop long-term, with an above-average arm and athleticism. His hit tool is his best weapon. He has shown some of the best bat-to-ball skills in the draft class. While Willits is more of a line drive hitter, he has the potential for average power.

The obvious projectable pro about Willits is that he is very young as well. He won’t turn 18 until December. While he could eventually be a great hitter for the Pirates, it probably won’t be for another two years, at the very least. Even then, he’ll only be 19 when 2027 Opening Day arrives (assuming there is one, pending the forthcoming lockout). If the Pirates go with a position player, they need one who won’t take two, three, or even four years to develop.

But Willits is a very polished hitter. He’s the sort of bat that could make it through the minor leagues quickly. Last year, the Pirates took the best high school player available in Konnor Griffin, and it’s worked out tremendously so far. That doesn’t mean Willits will be great, however, but it is something to consider when the Pirates are on the clock. 

2. Ike Irish

Ike Irish is a catcher/outfielder/first baseman at Auburn. He finished off his college career batting .364/.469/.649 with 19 home runs in 258 plate appearances. He drew walks nearly as often as he struck out, with a 12.8% walk percentage to combat a 14.3% K%. Irish had an isolated slugging percentage approaching .350, at .346.

Irish is a pure hitter, and the Pirates need more bats in their system. That’s been made evident with the lack of offense at the major league level, and the paucity of reinforcements in the upper levels of the minor leagues. Irish is an advanced college bat who has shown off a great hit tool, power, and plate discipline.

However, Irish would be an underslot draft pick at number six. He also does not have a defined position. Irish has seen playing time behind the plate, at first base, and in both corner outfield positions throughout college. He has a strong enough arm to play behind the plate or in the outfield, but struggles with blocking. The first-round, bat-first catching prospect the Pirates took recently hasn’t worked out very well. However, that doesn’t mean Irish won’t be good.

1. Aiva Arquette

Aiva Arquette is ranked as the best college position player in the entire draft by both Pipeline and BA. After transferring to Oregon State, Arquette went on to post a .354/.461/.654 triple-slash. Arquette only struck out 16.5% of the time, while drawing walks in 12.6% of his 310 plate appearances. Arquette hit for well above-average power as well, going yard 19 times with an isolated slugging percentage of .300.

If there’s one thing the Pirates need, it’s a power bat in the system. His pull-side power could lead to 30 home runs. The Pirates only have one hitter in their system who could eventually develop into a consistent 20-homer threat in Griffin. Arquette is precisely the sort of player the Pirates should prioritize in the draft: a college player with a ton of offensive upside. On top of that, Arquette is a solid defensive shortstop and could stick at the position long-term. The only question is if his range will limit his progress on the defensive side of the ball, because his arm is plenty strong enough.

The biggest downside is that Arquette’s hit tool only projects as average. While that is plenty good enough to make his raw power stand out, the Pirates would be taking slightly less of a risk drafting Irish if they opted to go the college bat route. However, there isn’t one thing Arquette does at a below-average level, and he'd be the ideal Pirates pick at No. 6.