Pittsburgh Pirates Secure No. 5 Overall Pick In 2026 MLB Draft

Another year, another MLB Draft Lottery, and another predictably lukewarm result for the Pittsburgh Pirates. In what’s becoming a bit of a tradition, the team walked into the lottery with high hopes and walked out with… well, the fifth overall pick. Let’s all try to contain our excitement.

On Tuesday, the baseball world turned its collective, sleepy eyes to the 2026 MLB Draft Lottery. The Pirates, fresh off a thrilling 71-91 season, had the third-best odds of snagging that coveted top spot. It’s the seventh straight year they’ll have a top-10 selection, a record of consistency that no one asked for and certainly no one is celebrating.

The Pirates Fell Top Pick; What Else Is New?

The big winner of the night was the Chicago White Sox, who entered with the best odds and actually won. Good for them. Meanwhile, teams like the Rays and Giants jumped up the board, proving that sometimes, the lottery balls do bounce in mysterious and, for some, infuriating ways. But for the Pirates, it was just another Tuesday. Another top 10 pick to add to the collection. It’s getting crowded in there.

A History Of High Picks and Hope

General Manager Ben Cherington is now heading into his seventh draft. Does anyone know why he hasn’t been fired yet? The pressure is mounting. High draft picks are supposed to be the building blocks of a contender, the light at the end of the tunnel. For the Pirates, that tunnel is starting to feel awfully long.

To be fair, some of these picks have made it to the big leagues. Paul Skenes, the first overall pick in 2023, has been a phenomenon. Henry Davis (No. 1 in 2021) and Nick Gonzales (No. 7 in 2020) have also seen time in Pittsburgh, with varying degrees of success. But the farm system, while praised, hasn’t yet translated into consistent winning at the major league level. We’re still waiting for that “core” to truly solidify and turn the tide.

This fifth pick will come with a hefty price tag. Last year’s fifth pick had a slot value of over $8 million. Skenes set a franchise record with a $9.2 million signing bonus when he got drafted. So, not only do the Pirates need to pick the right guy, but they also need to open the checkbook. No pressure, though.

What Does a Fifth Pick Really Get You?

Looking back at MLB history, the fifth overall pick has produced some absolute legends. Dwight Gooden, Buster Posey, Ryan Braun, and Dale Murphy were all selected at number five. It’s proof that you don’t need the top spot to find a franchise-altering talent.

As we look ahead to the 2026 draft, we can only hope this fifth pick is “the one.” Maybe this is the player who will join Skenes, and hopefully others, to form a team that doesn’t need to rely on lottery luck. But for now, it’s just another high draft pick for a team that has plenty of them. Forgive us if we don’t throw a parade. We’ve seen this episode before.