New York Yankees-Imagn Images

Prized Prospect in David Bednar-Yankees Trade Set to Headline Pirates Youth Movement

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Zach Kaplan | Last updated Sep 16, 2025 4:21 PM ET

The fix for the ailing Pittsburgh Pirates will surely be youth in the coming years. Between the call-up of Bubba Chandler and the promotion of top prospect Konnor Griffin in the coming years, the Pirates will look to contend with a vastly different core than the one they began this season with.

Already, Pittsburgh has parted with closer David Bednar and beloved third baseman Ke'bryan Hayes, and those trades promise a brighter future in the Steel City.

The Hayes deal landed Pittsburgh prospects Sammy Stafura, and Taylor Rogers, who was later traded to the Cubs for outfielder Ivan Brethowr, while the Bednar trade landed catching prospects Edgleen Perez and Rafael Flores.

Flores is being called up by the Pirates, the team announced, after the catcher and first baseman hit to an .822 OPS in 36 games with Triple-A Indianapolis, and is set to serve as an immediate reinforcement.

One of the chief disappointments for the Pirates this year has been catcher Henry Davis, who was the first overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, and has continued to perform below expectations at the big league level.

Flores could easily be for the Pirates what Ben Rice has been for the Yankees, serving as a dual threat at catcher/first base with some strong pop at the plate and strong defense at each position.

Between the recent promotions of Paul Skenes, Chandler, Flores and Griffin and Hunter Barco soon enough, the Pirates are only getting younger, which should signal a change in culture from aging veterans with their best play behind them to young, hungry players with something to prove and not a lot to lose.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: