North Shore Nine

Pirates director of amateur scouting Justin Horowitz sits down with North Shore Nine for a deep dive into how Pittsburgh builds its draft board and why this year’s class drew such strong reviews. Horowitz walks us through the conviction behind selecting Konnor Griffin, what the Pirates truly value in amateur hitters (decision quality, athleticism, bat-to-ball, adaptable swings), and how player development and R&D are wired into every pick from Day 1. He also explains how Seth Hernandez landed at No. 6, what traits the room prioritized with him, and where the organization sees early gains coming.

We go inside the draft room—how the board is built, how it flexes in real time, who gets the final say, and the slot/bonus calculus that shapes Day 1 and Day 2 strategy. Horowitz breaks down why “drafting for need” is a trap, how they balance ceiling vs. probability, and what early checkpoints the Pirates use to validate their process. There’s thoughtful context on Angel Cervantes choosing UCLA, why that outcome still fits the plan, and what a protected 2026 compensation pick means for the pipeline.

You’ll also hear about a few under-the-radar names the Pirates believe can pop with pro development, plus first steps the staff wants to see from Griffin and the rest of the class. If you’re into how great drafts get made—scouting looks, makeup reads, data, and development working as one—this episode is for you.

Watch the full interview on our YouTube channel, subscribe, and drop a question for our next front-office guest.