Pirates Land High School Pitcher Seth Hernandez in 2025 MLB Draft

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Pittsburgh Pirates Secure High School RHP Seth Hernandez with Sixth Overall Pick in 2025 MLB Draft

the Pittsburgh Pirates have officially selected Seth Hernandez, a highly touted high school right-handed pitcher, with the sixth overall pick in the 2025 Major League Baseball Draft. This marks a critically important move for the Pirates as they continue to build their future through the draft.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have made their significant selection in the 2025 Major League Baseball Draft,choosing high school right-handed pitcher seth Hernandez as the sixth overall pick. This decision signals a clear direction for the franchise as they focus on cultivating young talent.

Hernandez, known for his impressive repertoire and potential, represents a key piece in the Pirates’ long-term rebuilding strategy. His selection at number six underscores the team’s belief in his ability to make a substantial impact at the professional level.

The draft is a critical component of team building in baseball, offering a pathway for acquiring promising amateur talent. For teams like the Pirates,triumphant draft classes can fundamentally reshape their future success.

This pick reflects the careful scouting and evaluation that goes into identifying potential stars. The organization will now work to develop Hernandez, integrating him into their system with the goal of seeing him contribute to major league games in the coming years.

Understanding the MLB Draft: Building Baseball’s Future

The Major League baseball Draft is an annual event where teams select amateur baseball players, primarily from high schools and colleges. It’s a cornerstone of how professional baseball teams build their rosters and develop talent for the long haul.

Teams use their draft position to select players they believe have the highest potential to become successful major leaguers. The earlier a player is selected, generally the higher the expectations and the greater the investment the team makes in their growth.

The draft process involves multiple rounds, with each team having an possibility to make a selection in every round. This ensures that even teams with fewer resources or less current success have a chance to acquire promising young talent.

Developing drafted players is a marathon, not a sprint. It involves extensive minor league play, specialized coaching, and careful management of a player’s physical and mental growth. Many drafted players do not reach the major leagues, but those who do can become the stars who define an era for a franchise.

Frequently Asked Questions About the MLB Draft and Seth Hernandez

Who did the Pittsburgh Pirates select with the sixth overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft?

The Pittsburgh Pirates selected high school right-handed pitcher Seth Hernandez with the

What is Seth Hernandez’s fastball velocity range,according to the scouting report?

Hernandez: A Rising Star in the 2025 Draft Class

The Pittsburgh Pirates have made a meaningful splash in the 2025 MLB Draft,selecting Seth Hernandez,a highly touted right-handed pitcher from Northwood High School in Irvine,California,with the 15th overall pick. Hernandez was consistently ranked among the top pitching prospects leading up to the draft, lauded for his fastball velocity and developing secondary pitches. This selection signals the Pirates’ commitment to bolstering their pitching pipeline and adds a potential future ace to their rotation. MLB draft analysis consistently highlighted Hernandez’s potential.

Scouting Report: What Makes Hernandez Special?

Hernandez’s profile is particularly attractive to major league scouts. Hear’s a breakdown of his key strengths:

Fastball: Regularly clocks in at 94-97 mph, with peak velocities reaching 99 mph. Features excellent movement and command for his age. considered a plus pitch.

Slider: A developing slider with sharp break, showing potential to be a dominant out pitch. Currently graded as above average.

changeup: Hernandez’s changeup is his third offering, showing flashes of effectiveness but needing further refinement.

Command & Control: Demonstrates good control within the strike zone, minimizing walks and keeping hitters off balance.

Athleticism: Possesses a clean and repeatable delivery, suggesting durability and potential for continued velocity gains.

Analysts at Baseball America noted Hernandez’s “projectable frame” and “high ceiling,” while MLB Pipeline highlighted his “plus fastball” and “impressive command.”

Pirates’ Draft Strategy & Hernandez’s Fit

The pirates have been strategically rebuilding their farm system over the past few years, focusing on acquiring high-ceiling prospects through the draft and trades. Hernandez fits this mold perfectly.

Addressing a Need: the Pirates’ pitching depth is a key area of focus. Hernandez provides a long-term solution and a potential cornerstone for the future.

Developmental Upside: Hernandez isn’t a polished product, meaning the Pirates’ renowned player advancement staff will have ample possibility to refine his skills and maximize his potential.

Comparison to current Players: Some scouts have drawn comparisons to current Pirates pitcher Mitch Keller, citing similar fastball velocity and a commitment to developing secondary pitches.

Hernandez’s High School Career Highlights

Hernandez dominated competition throughout his high school career at Northwood.

Senior Season Stats (2025): 8-1 record, 0.85 ERA, 85 strikeouts, and 15 walks in 63.1 innings pitched.

All-State Selection: Named California All-State First Team in 2025.

Perfect Game all-American: Recognized as a Perfect Game All-American in 2024 and 2025.

Area Code Games Performance: Impressed scouts at the prestigious Area Code Games in 2024, showcasing his fastball and slider.

His performance earned him significant attention from college programs, but hernandez ultimately opted to pursue a professional career after being drafted by the Pirates.

Contract Expectations & Future outlook

Industry experts predict Hernandez will sign a contract worth approximately $3.5 million, slightly below the slot value for the 15th overall pick, potentially allowing the Pirates to allocate additional funds to signing other draft picks.

Projected Timeline: hernandez is expected to begin his professional career in the Florida Complex League (FCL) before potentially progressing to Single-A Bradenton in 2026.

Development Focus: The Pirates will likely prioritize developing Hernandez’s changeup and refining his command to complement his already impressive fastball and slider.

Long-Term Potential: If Hernandez reaches his ceiling, he could become a front-end starting pitcher for the Pirates for years to come. His potential impact on the team’s future success is considerable.

MLB Draft: Key Terms & Resources

For fans looking to learn more about the MLB Draft, here are some helpful resources and key terms:

MLB Draft Tracker: https://www.mlb.com/draft

Baseball America Draft Coverage: https://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/

MLB Pipeline draft Rankings: https://www.mlb.com/pipeline/draft-rankings

Slot Value: the recommended signing bonus for each draft pick, based on the pick’s position in the draft order.

Competitive Balance Rounds: Additional rounds in the draft designed to give teams with limited resources more opportunities to acquire talent.

* Draft and Follow: A rule allowing teams to sign drafted players up to one year after the draft.