Pittsburgh Pirates Named Justin Newman Scouting Director
The team promoted the longtime staffer to oversee all amateur scouting and lead the 2027 MLB Draft preparations.
Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Baseball
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The Pittsburgh Pirates have officially appointed Justin Newman as their new director of amateur scouting. Newman, who has been with the organization since 2017, replaces former scouting director Justin Horowitz.
Why it matters
The hire marks a strategic transition for the organization as they look to build upon recent high-profile draft selections. Newman is tasked with managing the team's talent acquisition strategy moving into the 2027 season.
The front office reviewed eight external candidates before choosing an internal promotion. Previous scouting efforts yielded top-ten picks including Paul Skenes, Konnor Griffin, and Seth Hernandez.
The players
Justin Newman
He is the newly appointed director of amateur scouting for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Justin Horowitz
He is a former scouting director for the Pirates who now serves as an assistant general manager for the Washington Nationals.
Kevan Graves
He is an assistant general manager for the Pittsburgh Pirates who led the 2026 scouting process.
Pittsburgh Pirates
They are a professional Major League Baseball franchise based in Pittsburgh.
The details
Assistant general manager Kevan Graves led the hiring process that saw the Pirates evaluate multiple candidates for the vacancy left by Horowitz. Horowitz, who guided the 2024 and 2025 drafts, recently departed to join the Washington Nationals.
Timeline
January 2017 marked the start of Justin Newman's tenure with the organization.
2026 saw assistant general manager Kevan Graves oversee the scouting process.
2027 will serve as the first MLB Draft led by Justin Newman.
Season Trajectory
The hiring of Newman follows the organization's pattern of high-draft-pick investment as established by the 2023 selection of Paul Skenes. This change impacts how the club will evaluate future amateur talent and manage its long-term development pipeline.
Fans can monitor the upcoming 2027 draft class rankings to see how Newman's tenure shifts scouting priorities compared to previous years. The front office will now focus on sustaining the success of recent first-round selections like Skenes and Griffin.
The takeaway
The appointment of an internal candidate suggests the team plans to maintain continuity in their scouting methodology. This move keeps the organization aligned with their established strategy of aggressive early-round drafting.
Further reading
For more news on the team, visit the Baseball section.
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