Pirates Recall Top Prospect Outfielder From Triple-A

García, 23, was acquired in the five-player December trade that sent right-hander Johan Oviedo to the Boston Red Sox. Nicknamed “The Password,” he is currently the No. 4 prospect in the Pirates’ farm system, according to MLB Pipeline.

Last August, García made his big league debut and went 1-for-7 with two walks in five games with Boston. Some called for him to make the Pirates’ Opening Day roster after his standout spring training, in which he batted .405/.463/.595 with two home runs and six RBIs in 41 plate appearances. However, the club opted to have him begin the season in the minor leagues instead.

García opened 2026 in a 1-for-27 slump before breaking out with a three-hit game on April 5. He then hit safely in six of his next seven games, raising his batting average to .158, before a lower back injury sidelined him for two and a half weeks. Following a six-game rehab assignment with Single-A Bradenton, he rejoined Indianapolis’ lineup this past Tuesday.

In his first game back with Indianapolis, García erupted for a 5-for-5, three-homer performance. While his Triple-A batting average this season is still just over the Mendoza line, the right-handed power bat has slashed .324/.365/.632 with six home runs over his last 68 plate appearances, a sign he has emerged from his slump.

O’Hearn, who landed on the 10-day injured list Sunday, was primarily playing right field for Pittsburgh before suffering a right quad strain over the weekend. García could be asked to step into that everyday role, but because he is capable of handling all three outfield spots, the Pirates have the flexibility to move Bryan Reynolds back to right field or even give Oneil Cruz a day off from center field if necessary.

Pittsburgh owns MLB’s sixth-best OPS (.746) against right-handed pitching this season, but ranks 24th against lefties with a .656 OPS. With St. Louis Cardinals southpaw Matthew Liberatore scheduled to start Tuesday, perhaps García could give the lineup a jolt. He posted an .857 OPS against left-handed pitching in 2025 and is 9-for-19 with three home runs in a limited sample this year.