DENVER, Colorado – Fifteen student-athletes from the American Athletic Conference were selected in the 2021 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft over the course of three days July 11-13 in Denver, Colo.
American Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year Gavin Williams of East Carolina was selected No. 23 by the Cleveland Indians, the second-highest draft pick in Pirate history and third first-round selection in program history. Williams was a consensus first-team All-American and a semifinalist for the Dick Howser and Golden Spikes awards. The Pirates’ ace is the sixth player drafted in the first round in conference history.