24 MAY 2025: The Fresno State Bulldogs take on the San José State Spartans during the 2025 Mountain West Baseball Championship is held at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ. (ISAAC WASSERMAN/NCAA Photos)
This is one in a series of stories breaking down PBN’s Top 30 Pittsburgh Pirates prospects.
The Pirates selected third baseman Murf Gray in the Comp B round of this year’s draft, and he became the second-highest selection to sign after second-round pick Angel Cervantes opted to honor his collegiate commitment to UCLA.
Gray received the second-largest signing bonus of anyone in the Pirates’ 2025 draft class, putting pen to paper for $997,500. First-round pick Seth Hernandez signed for $7.25 million.
The 21-year-old slashed .324/.398/.639 with 22 doubles, 18 home runs and 73 RBI in 60 games during his junior year with the Bulldogs. He finished tied for first in the Mountain West Conference in home runs and second in RBI and received 2025 All-Mountain West First Team honors.
In addition to being named to the 2025 conference First Team, Gray was named the 2023 Mountain West Freshman of the Year and led Freson State to the Mountain West Championship each of the last two seasons while being named MVP on both occasions.
Gray, who is listed at 6-foot-4, 230 pounds and bats right-handed, performed well in the Cape Cod League last summer. With a wooden bat, he hit .329 with an .867 OPS, nine doubles, five home runs, 27 RBI and five stolen bases in 35 games.
Despite being a 2025 ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove finalist, there are questions whether or not Gray will stick at third base as a professional. He possesses a plus-arm from the hot corner but lacks footspeed and could wind up at first base. But given his arm, perhaps the Pirates will see if he can handle a corner outfield spot at some point in his career. Worth a shot, anyway.
But it’s Gray’s power that makes him an appealing prospect, and he has the ability to display it to all fields.
Gray didn’t play in any professional games in 2025 but will start affiliated baseball next season in the Pirates’ organization, either with Low-A Bradenton or High-A Greensboro.
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