Tide Pitcher Tyler Fay Selected By Pirates In Sixth Round Of 2026 MLB Draft

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Alabama right-handed pitcher Tyler Fay was selected Sunday by the Pittsburgh Pirates with the 169th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2026 MLB Draft.

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The 6-foot-5, 215-pound right-hander was ranked No. 229 on MLB Pipeline's Top 250 draft prospects list entering the draft.

MLB.com reported the approximate value of Fay's pick is $403,500.

Fay becomes the second Crimson Tide player selected in this year's draft, joining shortstop Justin Lebron, who was taken in the first round with the 18th overall pick Saturday by the Cincinnati Reds.

After redshirting in 2023, Fay worked primarily out of the bullpen in 2024 before moving into the weekend rotation in 2025.

He broke out in 2026 as the Crimson Tide's ace, helping lead Alabama's postseason run to its first College World Series since 1999, while cementing himself as one of the top pitching prospects in the draft.

The Doniphan, Nebraska, native emerged as one of the Southeastern Conference's top pitchers during his redshirt junior season, serving as Alabama's Friday night starter while helping lead the Crimson Tide to one of its most successful seasons in recent history.

He earned second-team All-SEC honors after posting a team-best six conference victories, compiling a 4.38 ERA in 63.2 SEC innings while striking out 73 batters and ranking among the league leaders in innings pitched and WHIP.

Fay's signature performance came March 20, when he threw a no-hitter in Alabama's 6-0 victory over then-No. 18 Florida.

The complete-game gem featured a career-high 13 strikeouts and marked the Crimson Tide's first individual nine-inning no-hitter since Eddie Owcar accomplished the feat in 1942.

His dominant outing earned him a host of national and conference honors, including SEC Pitcher of the Week, NCBWA National Pitcher of the Week, College Baseball Foundation Pitcher of the Week, Perfect Game USA Pitcher of the Week, Baseball America National Team of the Week and Golden Spikes x D1Baseball Player of the Week.

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