When you factor in new information, new tools, metrics, scouting reports and managing the available bonus pool, the MLB Draft can be “a little more art than science sometimes,” as Pirates director of amateur scouting Justin Horowitz put it. The goal is to leave with the best talent pool possible,

Going into the Draft, there was plenty of buzz about how this was a deep class for collegiate pitchers. There’s also a clear and present need for offense if the Pirates want to become competitive in the near future. With that in mind, naturally, Pittsburgh ended up taking two high

The question wasn’t if Seth Hernandez was going to be drafted, but when and where the right-hander would land. Billed as one of the best high school pitching prospects in the MLB Draft’s history, that 39-minute wait from the start of the Draft until it was announced that the Pirates

Lightning strikes, maybe once ... maybe twice.

KANSAS CITY -- This isn’t Justin Horowitz’s first rodeo running the Pirates’ Draft room, but it is the first time the director of amateur scouting has been at the helm for the entire Draft process. It’s a year-long journey, evidenced by Horowitz making a trip out to San Diego last

There was no shortage of notable performances around the Minors, especially on the mound. Top 5 prospect Bubba Chandler continued to look like an ace-in-training, while Mick Abel and Brandon Sproat matched each other zero for zero. Offensively, the red-hot Owen Caissie reached the seats yet again, as did Kaelen

Summertime is all about the bats. At least that's how it seemed to shake out around the Minor Leagues on Sunday as big performances at the plate took the spotlight to cap the first week of July. Among those were big hits from some of the top shortstop prospects in

The Fourth of July might be over, but there were plenty of Minor League fireworks left over. Everson Pereira checked off the milestone box, hitting for a cycle during the best overall performance of his professional career. Meanwhile, Top 100 prospect Owen Caissie cracked two more long balls, Zyhir Hope

Fourth of July and baseball? Some might say it’s the perfect combination. For the Greensboro Grasshoppers on Friday, it turned out to be just that -- with a perfect game to match.

This story was excerpted from Alex Stumpf’s Pirates Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

The holiday weekend kicked off with barbecues, fireworks and plenty of action around the Minors. Top 100 talent Bubba Chandler (Pirates), Walker Jenkins (Twins) and more lived up their lofty billing as baseball's brightest up-and-comers. However, they weren't alone in showing off on our nation's birthday, which was highlighted by

Any given Sunday, there’s plenty of MiLB action to go around, but this week’s edition featured yet another home run in a series finale by Carson Williams (Rays), the second multihomer game of the week by fellow shortstop Colson Montgomery (White Sox) and some near-perfect pitching by Connelly Early (Red

Saturday night was one for baseball's top prospects to shine brightest. From a walk-off single by Leo De Vries (Padres) to Max Clark (Tigers) filling up the box score with three hits, there was no lack of eye-catching performances in the Minors. Among other notables was Walker Jenkins (Twins) recording

MILWAUKEE -- The biggest crowd of the year filled American Family Field on Wednesday afternoon to watch two electric arms go head to head. If they get their way, there will be many more Paul Skenes vs. Jacob Misiorowski matchups to come.

This story was excerpted from Alex Stumpf’s Pirates Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

As summer officially gets underway, some of baseball's most talented prospects have been bringing the heat. C.J. Kayfus lit things up at Triple-A with a grand slam and four hits, Travis Sykora continued his remarkable pitching at Triple-A and teenager Sebastian Walcott put on a show during the Pipeline Showcase.

This year, the Top 100 prospect promotions are coming rapid-fire. Last year's No. 2 overall pick, Chase Burns, debuted Tuesday against the Yankees. Top overall prospect Roman Anthony was recently summoned to Boston, as was Jac Caglianone to Kansas City. Since the start of the season, 29 prospects who began

PITTSBURGH -- After taking a good look at his swing last month, Billy Cook determined it was time for a change. If it wasn’t a feel thing, the results on the scoreboard was enough to go back to the lab. After a breakthrough campaign last season that got him onto

Competition is rife in the National League Central with five clubs perpetually jockeying to dethrone one another. A consistent factor in determining who does that? Prospect development. These top performers have a uniquely NL Central bent and it’s no surprise, given that the division accounts for 23 of the Top

CHICAGO -- Considering all the hype surrounding guys like Paul Skenes and Jared Jones last year and Bubba Chandler (No. 1 prospect) and Hunter Barco (No. 5 prospect) this year, Mike Burrows might not have been on everyone’s radar coming into this season. But the team’s No. 15 prospect (according

There was plenty of offense to go around with plenty of familiar names coming through at the plate, including a handful of Top 100 talent. Pirates teen sensation Konnor Griffin continued his hot-hitting ways at High-A while a pair of Big Apple youngsters flexed their muscles at Double-A. Out west,

This story was excerpted from Alex Stumpf’s Pirates Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

Summer is near and with it comes some sizzling performances from the Minors' best prospects. Last year’s No. 3 overall Draft pick matched a career high at the plate. A trio of Top 100 teenagers put up big numbers at High-A -- including two who made excellent first impressions with