Getting To Know the Pirates’ Latest 40-Man Additions

Back in mid-November, the Pittsburgh Pirates began their preparations for this year’s Rule 5 draft by protecting seven players. In all honesty, the Pirates had many players who deserved serious consideration for a 40-man spot, but not many anticipated seven protections.

The group the Pirates protected this season is arguably one of the strongest groups they’ve had in years. The majority of their protections have a legitimate shot to make an impact on the club during the 2026 season, with some even having a shot to land major roles out of spring training.

This is especially the case in the bullpen, an area the Pirates could use some extra reinforcements in. Two of the seven players they added to the 40-man have a legitimate chance to make the bullpen out of spring training, and they both have the chance to be very good options for Don Kelly next summer.

With the Rule 5 draft having taken place earlier this week, let’s dive into each of the players the Pirates protected, breaking down each of their skills along the way.

Editor’s Note: LHP Tyler Samaniego was the seventh player protected by the Pirates before being traded to the Boston Red Sox in the Johan Oviedo deal.

Esmerlyn Valdez, 1B/OF

Out of all the players the Pirates added to the 40-man roster, there was no bigger no-brainer addition than Esmerlyn Valdez. After an incredible regular season between two levels, followed by an impressive Arizona Fall League showing, Valdez would have certainly been stolen if he had been left off the roster.

During the regular season, Valdez slashed .286/.376/.520 with 26 homers and a 155 wRC+ between High-A and Double-A. He was also named the MVP of the South Atlantic League despite being promoted in early July.

Valdez is known for his right-handed power, which was evident when seeing his home run total and the impressive exit velocities he registered this summer. He also has the ability to slot in at first base and the outfield, giving the Pirates some valuable positional flexibility to fit him in the lineup.

Following the end of the 2025 regular season, it seemed likely that Valdez would return to Double-A at the start of 2026. However, thanks to his 1.355 OPS and a league-leading eight home runs in the Arizona Fall League, Valdez now has a legitimate shot to open the season in Triple-A.

Given the current state of the Pirates’ outfield depth, there’s a chance Valdez could fly up the system next season, eventually making a significant impact in the big leagues. He’ll be a name to keep a close eye on, as he’s likely going to be a big piece of the next contending Pirates team.

Jack Brannigan, SS/3B

Of all the players the Pirates chose to protect, Jack Brannigan was arguably the most surprising choice. This isn’t a knock on his skill set in the slightest; the concern for Brannigan lies in a shoulder injury that kept him out for all but 59 games this past season.

During the 59 games for which he was healthy, Brannigan showed encouraging flashes in Double-A Altoona. He slashed .225/.329/.358 with five homers and a 103 wRC+. Notably, Brannigan also notched a 23-game on-base streak that came to an end in late May.

Although he missed a majority of the season due to his shoulder injury, there’s a lot to like in Brannigan’s raw tools. He’s a superb athlete who possesses a tremendous arm in the field. He handled both shortstop and third base well before the injury, but his long-term home is likely at third.

At the plate, Brannigan has a good feel for the barrel. He’s topped out at 19 home runs so far in the minor leagues while regularly mashing extra-base hits. He still has some work to do when it comes to refining his approach, something he’ll have to work out in Altoona before he’s ready for the next jump.

Overall, the fact that the Pirates worried about Brannigan being picked despite his limited action in Double-A speaks volumes about how the organization views him. The Notre Dame alum has a chance to be an impact player in the big leagues soon, as long as he stays healthy.

Wilber Dotel, RHP

While many pitchers took massive strides forward during the 2025 campaign, there’s a legitimate argument that Wilber Dotel’s rise was the most impressive. Not only was it impressive, but it was also quite unexpected given that he struggled significantly in 2024 at High-A.

Through 125.2 innings at Double-A, Dotel notched an ERA just over 4.00, a FIP of 3.89, and a WHIP of 1.23. He was also a strikeout machine, as he struck out 131 batters in this span, a number 11 shy of the Altoona Curve’s franchise record.

Dotel is worth keeping an eye on simply for the stuff alone. He routinely touched triple-digits on his fastball while also mixing in a brand-new splitter, which ended up being a key reason for his dominant season. Not only this, but Dotel also features a solid slider and changeup in his arsenal, both strong offerings.

The main thing Dotel will have to refine before his MLB debut is his struggles with the long ball. He often struggled to keep the ball in the field this season, allowing towering blasts with his fastball numerous times. However, as his stuff improves, this issue should iron itself out also.

Dotel was one of my favorite arms to watch up close in Double-A Altoona this season, and I’m quite excited to see what the future holds for him.

Antwone Kelly, RHP

In addition to Dotel, right-hander Antwone Kelly was another arm that took a massive leap forward this season. He proved himself to be one of the more consistent starting pitchers in the organization, ultimately leading to his 40-man selection in mid-November.

Across 107.1 innings between two levels this past season, Kelly registered an ERA of 3.02, a FIP of 2.89, and a WHIP of 1.06. He also racked up an impressive 116 strikeouts and just 33 walks. His lack of walks was one of the biggest takeaways from his season, as his walk rate had previously spiked over 11% in 2024.

The first indication that this year would be special for Kelly was when his velocity saw a multiple-tick improvement. Near the end of the season, he was reaching triple-digits, a huge jump from when he sat in the low-mid 90s the year prior. His fastball also comes with a ton of life thanks to high vertical break.

Prior to the Rule 5 protection deadline, Kelly was seen as a “slam dunk” to be selected by other teams if he weren’t protected, as he looks pretty close to being big league ready. If he dominates out of the gate early on next season, look for him to impact the big league team sooner rather than later.

Ryan Harbin, RHP

At the end of the 2025 campaign, right-hander Ryan Harbin became a minor league free agent after an exciting season between three levels. However, he quickly re-upped with the Pirates, and they promptly added him to their 40-man roster.

Harbin was the first of three relievers to be added to the 40-man, and it’s easy to see why when looking at the numbers. Across 63.1 innings this season, he racked up 92 strikeouts, all while posting a 3.41 FIP. His numbers are slightly inflated due to some rougher innings in Triple-A at the end of the year, but they don’t tell the full story of his season.

Harbin regularly showcased an electric triple-digit heater, a slider, and a sharp splitter, notably handling the task of pitching in Greensboro with ease. He only allowed one home run in one of the most homer-friendly environments in the minor leagues.

Of the many, many pitchers I saw come through Double-A Altoona this year, Harbin looked the most big league-ready. His stuff immediately stood out against Double-A competition, blowing opposing hitters out of the water. In fact, I feel pretty confident that he could’ve handled a short stint in the majors if needed.

While some have doubted his potential due to his struggles at Triple-A Indianapolis, Harbin is still a guy to keep a very close eye on next season. If all goes as planned, he’ll likely make his MLB debut at some point in 2026.

Brandan Bidois, RHP

Although the Pirates had numerous relief pitchers break out this season in the minor leagues, no pitcher shone brighter than righty Brandan Bidois. Bidois, a native of Brisbane, Australia, made the most of every opportunity he was given, which allowed him to fly through the minors in 2025.

Bidois split this season between High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A, and yet he never really seemed to be challenged by opposing hitters. Across 61 innings, he registered a 0.74 ERA and a WHIP of 0.80, in addition to 69 strikeouts. Also, Bidois never surrendered a home run.

The most impressive stretch of his 2025 season came when Bidois went over a month and a half without allowing a hit. He did this while moving between Double-A and Triple-A amid his streak.

Bidois didn’t receive nearly enough credit for his tremendous season due to the fact that he was a reliever. His season has a legitimate case to be called the best pitching season in the system in 2025, as he was simply unhittable for the majority of the time he was on the mound.

I wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest to see Bidois have a legitimate shot to make the team out of spring training, as he has nothing left to prove in the minor leagues.