The Pittsburgh Pirates have found their groove in the MLB Draft, consistently targeting players with sky-high potential.
Paul Skenes, Konnor Griffin, Seth Hernandez — all guys with immense ceilings who could become franchise cornerstones.
When the 2026 MLB Draft arrives in a few months, it makes sense for Pittsburgh to stick with what’s working.
Let’s be honest — they’re not landing marquee free agents. Their path to contention runs through nailing these draft picks and developing stars internally.
With the No. 5 overall pick, MLB.com projects the Pirates will target another high-upside prospect: Eric Booth Jr., a toolsy high school outfielder from Mississippi.
Some draft boards won’t have Booth this high, but the thinking is Pittsburgh will be drawn to his specific skill set.
“The Pirates have gotten arguably the highest ceiling player in each of the last three Drafts, so I’m going to go Eric Booth Jr. from Oak Grove high school in Mississippi. I just think he has one of the highest ceilings in the Draft, he doesn’t have one of the most conventional swings, but he makes a lot of hard contact. He’s going to have at least average power, he’s a double-plus runner, he’s going to be a center fielder pretty easily and he’s looked even better this spring. I don’t know if he will end up going quite this high, but I do think Eric Booth is firmly in the consensus Top 10.”
That’s Jim Callis from MLB.com breaking down why Booth fits the Pirates’ profile perfectly.
The unconventional swing might scare off some teams, but Pittsburgh has shown they’re willing to bet on raw talent and development. Double-plus speed in center field with power potential? That’s exactly the kind of ceiling they’ve been chasing.
Projecting draft picks is tricky business — way more complex than other sports. Slot money, signability, positional needs, and experience levels all factor into decisions that don’t always follow traditional rankings.
But identifying organizational trends? That’s where you can find some clarity. The Pirates have established a clear pattern of swinging for the fences on upside plays.
Booth fits that mold perfectly. Keep his name in mind as draft season approaches — he could be the next high-ceiling prospect heading to Pittsburgh.
