What MLB mock drafts are projecting the Pirates to do with No. 6 pick in 2025 draft

Major League Baseball’s draft is slated for July 13, right before the All-Star break commences. It's an exciting evening for diehards, who follow prospects very closely and love to analyze the future of the organization they root for.

The Pittsburgh Pirates will have the sixth overall pick in this year’s draft and many top talents have been projected to be there for the taking. Publications such as MLB, ESPN, Baseball America, and others have been providing insight for quite some time now.

What MLB mock drafts are projecting the Pirates to do with No. 6 pick in MLB Draft

Aiva Arquette
Mock drafts included on: MLB Pipeline, ESPN, CBS Sports

The Pirates need young hitters who could reach the big leagues within a year or two. Aiva Arquette seems like the most realistic college bat that will be available when the Pirates are on the clock. The Oregon State infielder finished off a strong college season by hitting .354/.416/.654 throughout 310 plate appearances.

Arquette is known for his power and went yard 19 times with an impressive isolated slugging percentage of .300. He also drew a free pass in 12.6% of his trips to the plate. Arquette has continuously cut down on strikeouts since making it to college in 2023. This year, he only struck out 16.5% of the time. Overall, his hit tool is projected to be average, but his power is a plus.

Defensively, Arquette projects as a solid defender at shortstop. He has plenty of arm strength to make the deep throws from the position as well. However, his range has raised questions about whether he can stick at the position long-term. While Arquette moves better than most players his size — he's listed at 6-foot-5, 220 pounds — the possibility he moves to third base long term isn’t out of the question.

As of right now, MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis, ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel, and CBS’s Mike Axisa have the Pirates taking Arquette sixth overall. Arquette arguably makes the most sense for the Pirates. He is the best college bat, ranking top 10 in MLB Pipeline, Baseball America, and ESPN’s most recent draft rankings, and no other college position player is ahead of him in any board. 

Seth Hernandez
Mock drafts included on: Baseball America

If there’s one thing the Pirates can be sure of, it’s that they know how to develop young pitching. Although Ben Cherington typically takes at least one high school pitcher in the first few rounds of the draft, Seth Hernandez would represent the first high school hurler the Bucs have selected with their first-round pick since Quinn Priester in the 2019 draft.

Hernandez is a very advanced pitcher for his age. The right-hander has a four-pitch arsenal, with all of his offerings projecting as above-average or better. His four-seam fastball sits in the mid-to-upper-90s range and can hit 100 MPH. That’s arguably not even his best offering. His low-80s circle changeup has a 70-grade by Baseball America.

Hernandez also has a curve and slider. His 12-6 curveball generates a ton of spin. According to MLB Pipeline, he can reach upwards of 3000 RPM. His mid-80s slider rounds out his arsenal. Hernandez isn’t just a thrower either, as he’s shown decent control over all four of his pitches, given his clean mechanics on the mound.

Baseball America’s Carlos Collazo has the Pirates taking Hernandez here. According to Collazo, the Bucs have been linked to more high school talents than college players. BA gives Hernandez high praise, comparing his talent to some other very noteworthy former high school draft picks, like Jackson Jobe, Hunter Greene, and Mackenzie Gore. The Pirates have seemingly figured out a recipe to develop young arms, so this would help them lean into that strength.

Ike Irish
Mock drafts included on: The Athletic

Another college bat the Pirates could consider in the first round is Ike Irish. Irish finished up his final college season at Auburn, batting .364/.469/.710. He went yard 19 times in 258 plate appearances, and walked nearly as often as he struck out. Irish had a 12.8% free pass percentage, and a 14.3% strikeout rate. Irish even out-slugged Arquette, with a .346 isolated slugging.

Irish is a pure-hitter type. His hit tool projects as average to plus, as he struck out less than 15% of the time throughout his entire college career. However, he also is a potential annual 20+ home run hitter. The left-hander also didn’t seem to have any trouble against same-handed pitching, or different types of offerings, according to MLB Pipeline. Irish also hit well in the Cape Cod League last year, logging an .871 OPS.

The question remains where Irish’s long-term defensive home is. He has seen time all over the field, including catcher, first base, and both outfield corners. Irish’s arm is plenty strong enough to stick behind the dish or in an outfield corner, and would be wasted as a primary first baseman. As of right now, he projects as a fringe defender behind the dish, needing to improve his footwork and blocking. His fringe speed could play in an outfield corner if needed.

The Athletic’s Keith Law has the Pirates taking Irish sixth overall. Law’s report on the Pirates contradicts that of Baseball America’s, stating the Bucs are more likely to go after a college player. However, he still suggests that high schoolers like Hernandez and Eli Willits are possibilities. Irish would likely be the best under-slot draft choice, and the Pirates could definitely use his bat in the system. His ability to play so many positions may also be seen as a positive.