Pirates Draft Signings: Five Day Two Picks Put Pen to Paper

The Pittsburgh Pirates have announced the first five signings from their 2024 draft class.

The first group of draft signings is led by sixth-rounder Matt Ager, a right-handed pitcher from UC Santa Barbara. The 6-foot-6 Ager was named to the All-Big West Conference second-team this year after going 3-4 with a 4.02 ERA and 11 saves.

Left-hander Connor Wietgrefe from the University of Minnesota also signed. The Pirates selected him in the seventh round after he was named to the All-Big Ten first-team with an 8-4 record and a 2.77 ERA.

Eighth-rounder Gavin Adams, Ninth-rounder Duce Gourson and 10th-rounder Derek Berg are the other three signings announced by the Pirates on Monday.

Adams, a right-handed pitcher from Florida State, did not pitch in 2024 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He averaged 15.04 strikeouts per nine innings at Indian River State college in 2023 and was selected by the Washington Nationals in the 11th round of last year’s draft.

The Pirates then took Gourson, a shortstop from UCLA. The 21-year-old appeared in 51 games and slashed .288/.427/.482 with 16 doubles, seven homers, 27 RBIs and eight steals.

Berg was the final selection for the Pirates on the second day of the draft. The catcher played collegiately at Army West Point and earned Patriot League All-League first-team honors. In 53 games this past year, he hit .290 with 15 homers and 38 RBIs.

All five players will report to the Florida Complex League.

The Pirates have until Aug. 1 to sign the remaining players from their draft class, including Konnor Griffin, who was taken ninth-overall in the first round.