The Pirates fall 12-4 to the Twins as Byron Buxton hits for the cycle, extending their skid. Can the 2025 MLB Draft provide hope for Pittsburgh's future?
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It’s a tough time to be a Pirates fan. Another day, another lopsided loss, this time a 12-4 thumping by the Twins that extended the team's losing streak to a painful eight games. But just as the gloom of the present feels overwhelming, a beacon of hope arrives. Tonight is Draft Night, the single most important evening for the future of this franchise, offering a much-needed distraction and a promise of better days ahead.
We’re trying to build a sustainable winner. We’re going to take the best available talent.
There's no sugarcoating Saturday's game: it was a disaster. Starter Mike Burrows recorded just four outs, getting shelled for six runs in his shortest outing of the year and putting the team in an immediate hole. The bullpen couldn't stop the bleeding, and the offense was mostly quiet, save for a solo home run from Jack Suwinski. The exclamation point on the miserable evening was Twins' star Byron Buxton hitting for the cycle, capped by a 427-foot homer off Andrew Heaney. It was the kind of game that makes you want to change the channel, which is why today's events are so welcome.
Forget the 12-4 score for a moment and focus on these numbers: 6, 50, 73, and 82. Those are the Pirates' first four picks in the 2025 MLB Draft, which kicks off tonight at 6 p.m. ET. With a top-10 pick and three more in the top 100, the front office has a golden opportunity to inject high-impact talent into a farm system that remains the organization's lifeblood. Assistant GM Steve Horowitz has been clear about the strategy: they're not chasing trends, but targeting the best available player to build a 'sustainable winner.' It's a process that combines old-school scouting with advanced data, and after watching last year's top pick, Griffin, fly through the minors, there's reason for optimism that they can find another cornerstone.
Before the draft festivities begin and the league pauses for the All-Star break, there's still one more game to play. The Bucs will send Mitch Keller (3-10, 3.58 ERA) to the mound to try and salvage the series finale against the Twins. It's a tall order, but a win would be a massive psychological boost for a team that desperately needs one. Keller has been one of the few reliable arms in the rotation, and he'll be tasked with playing stopper and sending the team into the break with at least a shred of momentum.
So, here we are, Pirates fans, living in two different worlds. The present is bleak, with an eight-game losing streak and a tough finale on deck. But the future is bright with possibility. All eyes will be on the draft tonight to see who the next potential star in black and gold will be. Let's hope for a win from Keller and a franchise-altering pick to carry us through the All-Star break.
