A couple LSU recruits, 8 pitchers, Pirates 11-20 round picks

PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It’s the rounds where you might take a few chances, look to improve organizational depth. The Pirates selected eight pitchers and rolled the dice on a couple of highly rated LSU recruits. Here is some quick information on each one of the picks.

11^th round-LHP Spencer Evans-6’3”, 190 pounds, HS committed to LSU

• MLB.com said he can look like a first-rounder with the fastball averaging around 95-96 and a pair of above-average secondary pitches. He gets in trouble with command at times per MLB.com. He’s athletic and a high upside & like take a big offer for the Pirates to get him away from the Tigers

12^th round-RHP Rohan Lettow-6’3”, 190 pounds, San Diego State

• Aztecs number 1 starter at 6-1, 3.91 ERA (2^nd in Mountain West) with 92 strikeouts (2^nd in Mountain West) in 78.1 innings. Struck out six or more in 10 games and struck out 10 or more in four games. Went 4-0 with a 1.72 ERA in the New England College Baseball League last summer. Spent first two seasons at Arizona State.

13^th round-RHP Griffin Stieg-6’4”, 220 pounds, Virginia Tech

• Had Tommy John surgery at the end of his sophomore season, after missing 2025 he was 2-5 in 2026 in 66.1 innings, 33 walks and 52 strikeouts with a 7.46 ERA. He is a pitch-to-contact righty who had an ERA nearly three runs lower in his last season before the surgery. Had a pair of one-run starts, against Virginia and Pitt, both going six innings with seven strikeouts against the Cavs. Was a quarterback in high school and a center for the basketball team.

14^th round-RHP Damarcus Rideout-Carte-6’3”, 170 pounds, HS-Canada

• An 18-year-old from Brampton, Ontario. His fastball has reached 95 mph but sits in the high 80s to lower 90s per Perfect Game. The participated in the Blue Jays Baseball Academy for four years. He has yet to commit to a college.

15^th round-RHP Liam O’Leary-6’3”, 175 pounds, St. John’s University

• Went to a pair of Community Colleges (Lackawanna & Montgomery County). Last year as a junior at St. John’s went 8-5 (7-1 in conference) with a 3.64 ERA in 108.2 innings, 32 walks, 78 strikeouts. Pitched a complete game shutout at Big East Power UConn giving up only four hits. Another complete game at Villanova allowing a run with four hits, two walks and eight strikeouts. He is the first St. John’s pitcher in the MLB Draft in 11 years.

16^th round-RHP Grant Govel-6’, 200 pounds, USC

• The 21-year-old is known for his elite control & his fastball has risen consistently now at 94-95 according to MLB.com. In 2026 had 96 strikeouts to only 15 walks in 98.1 innings. Had Tommy John surgery before his freshman season and has a six-pitch mix and only throws from the stretch. MLB.com projects him as a potential back-end starter in the majors. Won his first six starts of 2026 and threw eight scoreless against Purdue with eight strikeouts with only two hits allowed finishing the season with a 2.93 ERA. Ranked by MLB as the 216^th best pick but drafted with pick 468.

17^th round-RHP-Nathan Helman-6’4”, 200 pounds, Kennesaw State

• Made 21 appearances as a sophomore and a leverage arm as a junior with the Owls. Made 17 appearance, 3-1, 31 innings, 15 walks, 40 strikeouts, 5.81 ERA. Pitched two scoreless innings against Georgia Tech.

18^th round-OF-Malachi Washington-6’1”, 203 pounds, HS-Georgia

• MLB.com projects him as the 117^th best pick with strong hands and wrists with a quick right-handed swing & big exit velocities. He has 55 out of 60 rankings for power, speed, arm and fielding per MLB.com. He is yet another LSU recruit joining Evans in this draft (and likely tough to sign) and first-round pick Derek Curiel played at LSU.

19^th round pick-OF Andrew Duncan-6’1”, 200 pounds, Wright State

• A junior from Dunedin, Florida he hit .380 this year with a .614 slugging percentage and .449 on-base percentage with nine doubles, six triples and six home runs with 33 RBIs in 40 starts. Had a 20-game on-base streak and another streak of multiple hit games in 17 of 21. Had a stretch of 24 hits in nine games during conference play. The right-hander had hits in mid-week games against Tennessee, Indiana and Ohio State.

20^th round pick-LHP Dakota Stone-6’, 205 pounds, North Florida

• A transfer from Jacksonville State and UCF, made 15 appearances (12 starts) at North Florida going 7-3 with a 2.85 ERA striking out 102 and walking 39 in 79 innings with a .210 batting average against as a redshirt junior. Had 10 strikeouts over 4.2 innings against Sacred Heart. The father and brother each played college baseball.