Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Arm: 50 | Field: 45 | Overall: 40

Gourson spent three years starting for UCLA (mostly at second base), earning a reputation as a gamer who maximized what tools he had, even earning a spot on Team USA after his sophomore campaign in 2023. He had a solid, albeit unspectacular junior season, finishing with a .909 OPS, and the Pirates took a low-risk flyer on him in the ninth round of the 2024 Draft, signing him for a touch under $190,000. After a nondescript pro debut after signing, he was one of the pleasant surprises of the Pirates' system in 2025, performing well in all facets of the game with High-A Greensboro and Double-A Altoona.

Gourson earned a ticket to pro ball because of his approach at the plate, swing decisions and contact skills. There was enough bat-to-ball skill to think he had a chance, and that was apparent in 2025; he kept his strikeouts relatively low, despite a little more swing-and-miss once he got to Double-A, while also posting a walk rate north of 10 percent. What wasn’t expected was the increased impact from the left side of the plate. He gained a few miles per hour in bat speed and that resulted in a huge uptick in exit velocity, allowing for more quality contact.

Gourson's instincts and aggressiveness make him an average runner or perhaps a slight tick above that as he stole 31 bags in 34 tries in 2025. He’s seen time at three infield positions -- all but shortstop -- and he should get some reps in the outfield corners as well. If he takes another step offensively, he has a utility role kind of future in the big leagues, and it’s hard to bet against him given his intangibles.

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Arm: 50 | Field: 45 | Overall: 40

For most of the past two years, Gourson has teamed up with Cody Schrier to make a formidable double-play combination at UCLA. The duo is back together for their Draft season, with Gourson coming off a solid sophomore campaign that saw him finish with a .953 OPS before playing his way onto USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team last summer, though he hasn’t been able to match that success at the plate this spring.

A left-handed-hitting middle infielder, Gourson has shown off a solid approach and a knack for finding the barrel since he set foot on campus. There isn’t a ton of raw power to tap into, but there is extra-base ability, and he can hit all varieties of offerings hard to all fields, plus he isn’t afraid of working counts and drawing walks (15 percent walk rate in 2023).

While Gourson has played some shortstop in the past, he profiles best on the right side of second base at the next level because he’s an average runner at best, and his arm is also just average. His bat is his carrying tool and it gives him the chance to be an offensive-minded second base type who goes in the top five rounds based on solid college performance.

Awards

EAS Player of the Week

Week	Team
09/14/2025

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	01/16/2026	Pittsburgh Pirates invited non-roster 2B Duce Gourson to spring training.
	01/16/2026	2B Duce Gourson roster status changed by Pittsburgh Pirates.
	06/24/2025	SS Duce Gourson assigned to Altoona Curve from Greensboro Grasshoppers.
	06/24/2025	Altoona Curve activated SS Duce Gourson.
	05/31/2025	Greensboro Grasshoppers activated SS Duce Gourson from the 7-day injured list.
	05/11/2025	Greensboro Grasshoppers placed SS Duce Gourson on the 7-day injured list.
	08/27/2024	SS Duce Gourson assigned to Greensboro Grasshoppers from Bradenton Marauders.
	08/06/2024	SS Duce Gourson assigned to Bradenton Marauders.
	07/22/2024	Pittsburgh Pirates signed SS Duce Gourson.
	06/16/2024	College Workout activated 2B Duce Gourson.
	02/20/2024	2B Duce Gourson assigned to UCLA Bruins.
	06/29/2023	College Workout activated 2B Duce Gourson.
	06/29/2023	College Workout activated 2B Duce Gourson.
	06/26/2023	2B Duce Gourson assigned to USAB Stars Team.
	06/26/2023	SS Duce Gourson roster status changed by USAB Stars Team.
	06/08/2023	2B Duce Gourson assigned to College Workout.
	04/03/2022	2B Duce Gourson assigned to Greeneville Flyboys.
	03/01/2022	2B Duce Gourson and assigned to UCLA Bruins.