Pirates Draft Jason DeCaro, Andruw Giles to Complete Day One
Jason DeCaro, a right-handed pitcher from UNC, and Andruw Giles, a prep outfielder wrapped day one of the Pirates' 2026 draft.
The Pittsburgh Pirates continued adding offense with their second round selections in the 2026 MLB Draft.
With the 80th overall pick, the Pirates took their first pitcher of the day, drafting UNC right-hander Jason DeCaro. The Pirates went to the high school hitting ranks with the 108th pick, selecting outfielder Andruw Giles.
The Draft Pick Signing Tracker is updated over at Pirates Prospects with all of today’s moves.
80th Overall: Jason DeCaro, RHP
DeCaro was ranked:
85th by Baseball America
97th by ESPN
133rd by MLB Pipeline
FanGraphs rated him the 12th best college pitcher outside of their top 75
He stands out for having the ability to throw four average or better pitches. DeCaro throws a fastball that has average velocity at best, along with a slider, curveball, and changeup. The more optimistic grades consider the slider and changeup as above-average or better.
Jason DeCaro Tools:
Fastball (50 FG, 45 MLB)
Velocity (92-94, 95 FG / 91-94, 97 MLB)
Slider (55 FG, 50 MLB)
Curveball (50 FG, 50 MLB)
Changeup (60 FG, 50 MLB)
Command (50 FG, 50 MLB)
Overall (35 FG, 45 MLB)
FanGraphs grades the changeup as one of the better changeups in the draft, ranking top six in future value. MLB has a lower grade on the pitch and considers the changeup to have fallen off during the 2026 season.
In both outlooks, the fastball velocity sits in the low-to-mid 90s, while topping out in the 95-97 range. That’s not a lot of power from a 6’ 5”, 225 pound frame. DeCaro has the potential for an arsenal with four average or better pitches, and average control and command. His profile greatly increases if he can add some velocity.
DeCaro had a 2.87 ERA in 19 starts for UNC his junior season, with a 24% strikeout rate and a 10.2% walk rate. He improved his strikeout rate from the first two seasons, when he was in the 20% range and producing ERAs around 3.80.
MLB Pipeline had this in their scouting report on DeCaro:
While DeCaro gets outs, he doesn’t miss a lot of bats or land his secondary pitches in the zone consistently. His fastball has ordinary velocity (91-94 mph, peak of 97) and shape and relies on generating weak contact. His fading low-80s changeup has regressed a bit during his junior season and is now more of an average offering, as are his tight low-80s slider and upper-70s curveball.
DeCaro keeps batters off balance by sequencing his pitches well and he throws consistent strikes from an upright delivery. Unless he improves the velocity and quality of his arsenal, he profiles more as a durable high-floor starter than someone who will pitch in the front half of a rotation. He’s extremely young for a college junior (20 years, three months on Draft day) but doesn’t have a lot of projection remaining in his strong 6-foot-5 frame.
The floor is noted as high, which comes from the pitch mix and command. The upside isn’t high, which could limit DeCaro to a back of the rotation role or a relief spot in the long-term. If the Pirates can get more out of his fastball, it would improve the odds of DeCaro remaining a starter.
As noted in the report, DeCaro is one of the younger pitchers in the college ranks, continuing a trend the Pirates have shown in this draft of taking college players on the younger side of the development curve.
108th Overall: Andruw Giles, OF
Giles was ranked:
155th by ESPN
157th by MLB Pipeline
176th by Baseball America
FanGraphs rated him the top prep hitter outside of their top 75
The Pirates added their second prep hitter of the day, with hopes of luring Giles away from his commitment to Oregon. The left-handed hitting outfielder has decent tools across the board, with average or better hit, speed, and fielding grades, along with below-to-fringe-average power.
Andruw Giles Tools:
Hit (55 FG / 50 MLB)
Power (40 FG, 45 MLB)
Speed (50 FG, 50 MLB)
Field (45 FG, 50 MLB
Overall (40 FG, 45 MLB)
What stands out to me the most are the Pitch Selection and Bat Control grades from FanGraphs. Giles receives a 55 grade in both categories, making him one of nine players in their rankings (out of 92 hitters) to grade 55 or better in both categories. These grades could increase the odds of Giles developing into average-or-better hit production, while also pushing toward average power.
The MLB Pipeline scouting report had Giles as a more hit-over-power guy, noting his offensive upside.
Strong and compact, Giles has the chance to be a solid offensive performer. He shows off hitterish traits from the left side, showing a solid, balanced approach and the ability to make a lot of solid contact. He looks like he’s more of a hit-over-power guy, but he can drive the ball to all fields. He’ll show off the raw power he can keep learning to tap into in BP, the kind of pop that will surely impress in workouts.
An average runner, Giles does have the chance to play center field, though not everyone thinks he can stick there. A once easily plus arm that fired mid-90s fastballs from the mound now looks more above-average after he dealt with elbow soreness that forced him into a DH role during last summer’s Area Code Games. It’s still plenty for an outfield corner, though that move will put more pressure on his bat. To some, it gives him a little more of a tweener profile, but those who see every day player potential will consider signing him away from his commitment to Oregon.
The profile from Pipeline makes it seem like Giles will end up as a left fielder in the long-term. His offensive potential could support that position, especially if the power department. FanGraphs did have his raw power slightly higher than the in-game power, with a fringe-average grade showing there’s potential for double-digit home runs.
With a first round pick that seems like a potential under-slot selection, the Pirates shouldn’t have an issue signing Giles at 108.
The Pirates Prospects Draft Pick Signing Tracker is updated with all of the day one selections. Pirates Prospects will continue live updates for rounds 5-20 tomorrow. Draft analysis can be found here at Pittsburgh Baseball Live.
Day one recap coming later tonight…
-Tim Williams