Pirates enjoy Lottery gains with No. 6 pick in 2025 MLB Draft
Alex Stumpf
@AlexJStumpfDALLAS -- They may not have won the jackpot this time around, but the Pirates hit big at the Draft Lottery again Tuesday, being awarded the sixth overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft.
The Lottery, which took place at the MLB Winter Meetings, was adopted with the 2022 Collective Bargaining Agreement instead of the traditional system of just going by a team’s win-loss record from the year prior. The Bucs finished 2024 with a 76-86 record, which would have given them the eighth overall pick in the old system.
A higher draft pick not only gives the Pirates an earlier selection for a potential impact player, but also a larger pool of bonus money to spend. The difference between the Nos. 6 and 8 picks in the 2024 Draft was $711,000 ($7,213,800 and $6,502,800).
Pittsburgh had a 5.3% chance at the first overall pick, which was the sixth-best odds of any club. It’s the second time in three years that the Bucs have landed a Lottery pick.
The Pirates were the big beneficiary of the new Lottery system in 2022, when they scored the first overall pick, which turned into ‘24 National League Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes. They selected shortstop Konnor Griffin, the club's No. 2 prospect and No. 50 overall, with the ninth overall pick in the ‘24 Draft.
Since Ben Cherington took over as general manager in November 2019, the Bucs have also selected Nick Gonzales, Henry Davis and Termarr Johnson with their first-round picks. Davis was the first overall pick in the 2021 Draft, and Johnson is the organization’s No. 3 prospect according to MLB Pipeline (No. 75 overall).
The No. 6 overall pick has been kind to the Pirates in the past, drafting Barry Bonds in that slot in 1985. This will be just the second time Pittsburgh has picked sixth overall. Other notable players that were taken in that spot include Zack Greinke, Gary Sheffield, Derek Jeter, Zack Wheeler and Bonds’ Pirate teammate Andy Van Slyke.
The Royals selected first baseman/left-handed pitcher Jac Caglianone with the sixth overall pick in 2024. He now ranks 17th overall on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 prospect list. Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson -- son of former Pirate Jack Wilson -- was the No. 6 pick in 2023, and is now MLB Pipeline’s No. 24 prospect.
The 2025 Draft will take place July 13-15 in Atlanta as part of MLB’s All-Star Week festivities. The Pirates will have the eighth overall pick for Wednesday’s Rule 5 Draft.