Griffin Stieg, a right-handed pitcher who closed out his collegiate career in Blacksburg, was selected Sunday by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 13th round of the 2026 MLB Draft with pick No. 378. The move ends Stieg’s four-season run with Virginia Tech and begins his professional path after a comeback season that drew scouts’ attention.
From recovery to the draft
Stieg’s selection caps a chapter defined by recovery and resilience. He underwent Tommy John surgery during his time with the Hokies, returned to competition and ultimately chose to return to Virginia Tech for an additional season rather than sign when he was previously drafted in the 18th round by the Seattle Mariners in 2025. That decision gave professional clubs another full season of evaluation.
This spring, Stieg emerged as a weekend starter in Virginia Tech’s rotation, sharing the front end with Brett Renfrow. When healthy, the right-hander showed the traits scouts covet: size, velocity and a breaking ball that produced weak contact. While his fastball velocity was noted to have returned early in the season before tapering later on, his overall package and underlying metrics kept teams interested despite some inconsistency in the second half.
What the pick means for Stieg and the Hokies
For Stieg, being selected in the 13th round represents both validation and a fresh set of challenges. For Virginia Tech, it’s another signal that the program continues to develop professional-caliber arms — the Hokies reached the NCAA Tournament for the second time under coach John Szefc this year, and Stieg’s drafting is part of that upward arc.
- Draft details: 13th round, No. 378 overall, Pittsburgh Pirates.
- College tenure: Four seasons at Virginia Tech with significant playing time in two seasons.
- Medical history: Returned from Tommy John surgery and improved draft stock by returning to school.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Player | Griffin Stieg |
| College | Virginia Tech |
| MLB team | Pittsburgh Pirates |
| Round / Pick | 13th round / No. 378 |
Scouts liked that Stieg returned for a full season to demonstrate health and workload capacity after surgery. His breaking pitch was highlighted as one of the more effective weak-contact offerings on the Virginia Tech staff, and early-season velocity gains reinforced the belief he could handle a starter’s role. Those positives outweighed the uneven second half that gave some cause for caution among evaluators.
Locally, Stieg’s path is familiar to many college athletes in Virginia who face the decision to sign early or return to school to improve draft standing. In his case, declining the Mariners’ 2025 offer and returning to Blacksburg paid dividends, offering another year to show durability and refinement.
As Stieg prepares to report to the Pirates’ organization, the next steps will include physicals, contract talks and assignment to a minor-league level where the club can continue his development. For Virginia Tech baseball fans, the pick is a reminder that the program’s recent NCAA Tournament appearances are translating into professional opportunities for players who can combine talent with recovery and perseverance.
The selection of Stieg is part of a larger pattern in college baseball: teams and players balancing medical recoveries, draft leverage and development time. For now, the focus for Stieg is straightforward — convert the promise shown in Blacksburg into consistent performance in the professional ranks.
