Pirates sign four players from 2023 Draft

The Pittsburgh Pirates today signed the following players from the 2023 First-Year Player Draft. The announcement was made by Joe DelliCarri, Pirates Senior Director of Amateur Scouting.

Round: Comp B
Name: Zander Mueth
Position: RHP
Height/Weight: 6-6/205
School: Belleville East (IL) HS
Affiliate Assignment: Florida Complex League

Was rated 83rd by MLB Pipeline among the top 250 draft prospects...Was rated by Perfect Game as the No. 33 draft prospect among the class of 2023... Was a Perfect Game pre-season All-American in 2023...Recorded a 3.38 ERA (37.1ip/14er) with 62 strikeouts as a senior at Belleville East High School...Limited opposing hitters to a .173 batting average against while recording a 2.33 ERA in 27.0 innings during his junior year in high school...Played in the Perfect Game All-American Game during the summer of 2022...Played basketball, soccer and track growing up, participating in the high jump and relays...Was signed by Pirates scout Anthony Wycklendt.

Round: 11
Name: Magdiel Cotto
Position: LHP
Height/Weight: 6-4/250
School: University of Kentucky
Affiliate Assignment: Florida Complex League

Was ranked No. 68 in 2023 among MLB draft college prospects by D1Baseball...Went 1-0 with a 6.00 ERA (18.0ip/12er) in 16relief appearances as a junior in 2023 at the University of Kentucky...Began his collegiate career in 2021 at the University of South Carolina before transferring to Kentucky...Started in the Cape Cod League’s All-Star Game in 2022 with the Hyannis Harbor Hawks...Was tabbed by Prep Baseball Report as the top player in the state of South Carolina in 2020..Was rated as the top left-handed pitcher and third-best pitcher from the state of South Carolina by Perfect Game...Was signed by Pirates scout Adam Bourassa.

Round: 12
Name: Khristian Curtis
Position: RHP
Height/Weight: 6-5/210
School Affiliate: Arizona State University
Assignment: Florida Complex League

Went 4-3 with a 7.03 ERA (64.0ip/50er) and 58 strikeouts in 15 appearances (14 starts) as a junior in 2023 at Arizona State University...Began his collegeiate career at Texas A&M, where he went 2-0 with a 1.42 ERA (19.0ip/3er) and 15 strikeouts in five starts in 2022...Was a three-year letterwinner at Port Neches-Groves (TX) High School, where he earned all-district first-team honors as a senior...Was signed by Pirates scout Derrick Van Dusen.

Round: 19
Name: Tyler Kennedy
Position: RHP
Height/Weight: 6-4/225
School: Florida SouthWestern State Col.
Affiliate Assignment: Florida Complex League

Went 4-5 with a 4.99 ERA (48.2ip/27er) and 59 strikeouts in 14 appearances (13 starts) in 2023 at Florida SouthWestern State College...Played for the Williamsport Crosscutters in the MLB Draft League in the summer of 2023, where he went 1-2 with a 2.65 ERA (17.0ip/5er) and 17 strikeouts in five starts...Began his collegiate career at the University of Pittsburgh in 2022...Played at Georgia Premier Academy, where he posted a 1.92 ERA and 99 strikeouts in 54.0 innings during his senior year...Was signed by Pirates scout John Koronka.