Assessment of the Pirates Drafting Seth Hernandez
p/c: Tracy Proffitt
The Pittsburgh Pirates held the sixth overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. With that selection, the Bucs chose RHP Seth Hernandez out of Corona High School in Corona, California.
Hernandez becomes just the fourth prep pitcher to be selected by the Pirates since 2010; joining Jameson Taillon (2010), Shane Baz (2017), and Quinn Priester (2019).
For the #6 pick, Pittsburgh will have a slot value of $7,558,600 to offer Hernandez, who currently has a commitment to Vanderbilt.
Hernandez put up insane numbers as a senior this year for Corona, as he posted a 0.39 ERA, while striking out 105 in 53.1 innings pitched. That production was more than good enough to receive Gatorade National Player of the Year honors.
There’s no doubt Hernandez entered the ‘25 draft as the best high school pitcher by every baseball prospect publication. It’s a projectable frame at 6’4, 190 pounds, with a fastball ranging from 95-98. During the Area Code Games, he was hitting 100 with it. Unlike a large majority of high schoolers that barely throw a changeup, Hernandez uses it frequently and it’s already a plus pitch. His other secondary offerings include a terrific, 12-6 curveball, and an above average slider.
Assessment of the pick: Objectively, the Pirates have done well at pitching development under the Ben Cherington regime, so they’ll be able to try and do that with Hernandez.
When the Bucs drafted Bubba Chandler in 2021, he was a two-sport athlete that had a commitment to play quarterback at Clemson. Because Hernandez has only played baseball, it might take him even quicker to develop, even though Chandler reached top prospect status.
Prep arms are always projects that come with high reward/high risk. However, a pitcher like Hernandez, who throws mid-to-upper-90’s on the fastball, along with three solid offerings, is simply too good to pass on. In my opinion, the selection of Hernandez is a thumbs up based on the upside, as well as an organization capable of developing pitching talent.