The Pittsburgh Pirates signed their first wave of draft picks Monday, adding three college players to their minor-league system.
Third baseman Murf Gray and right-handed pitcher Jack Anker of Fresno State and shortstop Matt King of Arizona State became the first players from their draft class to sign with the Pirates.
The trio toured PNC Park before the Pirates played the Detroit Tigers, taking in the sights from the field during batting practice and getting a chance to meet Pirates manager Don Kelly.
All three will be assigned to the Florida Complex League at Pirate City in Bradenton.
Pirates manager Don Kelly meets the first three picks from the 2025 MLB Draft class to sign: (L-R) Arizona State SS Matt King and Fresno State 3B Murf Gray and RHP Jack Anker. pic.twitter.com/4Q6v6rNsvl
— Kevin Gorman (@KevinGormanPGH) July 21, 2025
Draft picks Jack Anker (6th round), Murf Gray (Comp B) and Matt King (10th) at PNC Park after signing with the Pirates. pic.twitter.com/J2ylHx0fK9
— Kevin Gorman (@KevinGormanPGH) July 21, 2025
The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Gray, selected No. 73 overall in the Competitive Balance B round, batted .324/.398/.639 with 22 doubles, 18 home runs and 73 RBIs in 60 games as a junior.
“It meant the world. It meant that all the work that I put in paid off, but at the same time, the job’s not finished,” Gray said. “There’s a big goal here. Keep grinding and make your way to the big leagues and then when you do that, go win, man. Go win some World Series, go win some rings, go win a lot of things.”
Anker, taken No. 173 in the sixth round, was 12-5 with 130 strikeouts in 120 1/3 innings and had four double-digit strikeout games as Fresno State’s Friday night starter this past season. The 6-2, 200-pounder has a four-pitch mix that features a fastball and changeup.
Roommates at Fresno State, Anker and Gray were both signed by Pirates scout Mike Sansoe.
“We talked about this for a few years, like, ‘Hey, wouldn’t it be odd if we got drafted by the same team?’ Never really thinking it would happen,” Anker said. “For it to actually happen is pretty special.”
King, a 10th-rounder taken with the No. 293 pick, led the Big 12 Conference in batting average (.403) and hits (87) as a senior at Arizona State after spending his first three seasons at the University of Texas at San Antonio. The 6-1, 195-pounder was signed by Pirates scout Derrick Van Dusen.
“Best day of my life besides getting drafted,” King said. “Coming out here with these guys, signing our contracts, getting to see the ballpark, it’s great.”
