Top Pirates Prospects Who Could Contribute in 2026

The Pittsburgh Pirates set their sights high this offseason, and they’ve delivered upon their promises to increase payroll and add to the roster.

With the additions of Brandon Lowe, Ryan O’Hearn, and others, it’s been a big winter for the club. Even though these are massive additions, the biggest impacts on their 2026 roster might come from another area: the farm system.

From the rise of Konnor Griffin and Edward Florentino to the development of underrated arms such as Hunter Barco and Antwone Kelly, the Pirates have quietly put together a strong farm system. Many of their most impactful pieces are on the cusp of the big leagues, too, meaning they’ll likely make their MLB debuts in 2026.

Some of their most promising prospects — such as Just Baseball’s No. 11 prospect Bubba Chandler — have already made their big-league debuts and shown plenty of promise. For these players, 2026 will be about proving that their success is sustainable, not a one-off good stint.

As a side note, because Chandler has already thrown just over 30 innings in the big leagues, I chose to shed more light on players who have yet to make a huge impact in the majors and could do so in 2026.

Without further ado, let’s dive in and meet some of these players who could grace the PNC Park diamond this summer.

SS/OF Konnor Griffin (JB No. 1)

When the Pirates selected Konnor Griffin with the ninth overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, I don’t think the front office could’ve hoped for a better result than they’ve received so far.

In his first full professional season, Griffin had a campaign for the ages, breaking records and flying up prospect lists all across the industry.

It’s for good reason, too. Griffin slugged 21 homers, slashed .333/.415/.527, stole 65 bases, and posted a 165 wRC+ during this stretch. While these numbers are quite historic in their own right, this doesn’t even take into consideration that Griffin moved from Low-A to Double-A as a teenager, an incredibly rare feat.

Prior to the season, many people questioned the Pirates’ decision to develop Griffin as a shortstop. He was projected to potentially be a 70-grade or better defender in center field due to his speed, arm, and overall athleticism. He answered this criticism by playing phenomenal defense at shortstop, winning a Minor League Gold Glove Award and the Pirates’ Bill Mazeroski Defender of the Year Award.

As a direct result of his fantastic 2025 season, the Pirates are said to give Griffin every opportunity to win the Opening Day shortstop job, according to Jeff Passan. If he pulls this off, it’ll be a historic achievement, as the last offensive player to make their debut as a teenager was Juan Soto back in 2018.

Even if Griffin doesn’t crack the Opening Day roster, there’s no doubt that he’ll be a key contributor to the Pirates’ offense at some point this upcoming season. He’ll be a name to keep a close eye on wherever he goes, as the sky is the limit for the 19-year-old.

OF Jhostynxon Garcia (JB No. 74)

As I previously mentioned, the Pirates have made a notable number of external moves this winter. One of the first trades they made sent Johan Oviedo and two other prospects to the Boston Red Sox. In this deal, the Pirates received two interesting prospects, including outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia.

The 2025 season was big for Garcia, as he showed a lot of promise while in the minor leagues. He split his time between Double-A and Triple-A, where he combined to slash .267/.340/.470 with 21 homers and a 116 wRC+.

Garcia eventually hit well enough to earn a promotion to the big leagues, where he struggled in his five-game stint with the Red Sox. He struck out over 55% of the time with a wRC+ of just 82 during this period, which led to him spending the rest of the season in Triple-A.

Although he struggled to make this adjustment, there’s certainly still plenty of potential in his game. The biggest issue for “The Password” will be making more contact and chasing less frequently. He has a very aggressive approach at the plate, which produced a chase rate just shy of 35% in Triple-A.

Still just 23 years old, Garcia is currently projected to make the Pirates’ Opening Day roster. However, there is a chance the team could send him to Triple-A to give him more consistent playing time.

Regardless of where he begins the year, Garcia will certainly play an important role in the 2026 Pirates in some capacity.

OF Esmerlyn Valdez

Konnor Griffin wasn’t the only young hitter to take massive strides forward during the 2025 season, as slugger Esmerlyn Valdez followed a similar track.

Seemingly coming out of nowhere, the 21-year-old turned in one of the best offensive seasons in the organization, which earned him a trip to the Future’s Game in Atlanta during the Midsummer Classic.

Valdez split time between High-A Greensboro and Double-A Altoona last season, and he hit well in both places. He slugged 26 homers across both levels, while also hitting .286/.376/.520 with an astounding 155 wRC+ altogether. In fact, despite only spending 72 games in High-A, Valdez was named the South Atlantic League’s MVP.

Even though Valdez’s numbers during the regular season were impressive in their own right, he continued his tremendous campaign in the Arizona Fall League. He was one of the best hitters in the league, as he blasted eight homers in just 19 games while walking more than he struck out.

It seems likely that Valdez will begin the year in Triple-A Indianapolis thanks to his excellent stint in Arizona, which would put him on a path to likely make his debut sometime before the All-Star break. If he’s able to do this, Valdez could quickly become a major contributor to this organization’s power department.

LHP Hunter Barco

As a result of their ability to develop high-end pitching talent, the Pirates have had many arms fall under the radar due to the sheer number of arms in the system. This season, despite being regarded as a top 100 prospect by some outlets, Hunter Barco was one of these arms.

Barco didn’t last long in Double-A after beginning the season at the level. He went 25.2 innings without allowing a run, quickly earning himself a promotion to Triple-A. There, Barco pitched to an ERA under 3.80 while racking up 116 strikeouts in 99.1 innings.

During his time in Triple-A, Barco’s individual offerings showcased some positive results. For example, his splitter registered a whiff rate over 41%, with his slider following a similar trend.

Barco earned himself a promotion to the big leagues at the very end of the year, where he showcased positive results in his first three innings. He didn’t allow a single run or walk and induced plenty of swings and misses. He showed the promise to be a reliable arm during this time, whether it’s in the bullpen or the rotation.

While outlets such as RosterResource don’t project Barco to begin the year on the MLB roster, I believe he’s the best fit to be the team’s fifth starter on Opening Day. He’s shown a lot of promise, and he’s a favorable option to Carmen Mlodzinski, who struggled during his short stint as a starting pitcher last season.

Although his role is still up in the air, Barco will eventually significantly impact the 2026 Pirates.

RHP Brandan Bidois

While starters like Hunter Barco often dominate the conversation about breakout pitchers, reliever Brandan Bidois has a strong case for being the system’s biggest breakout arm last season. He was simply unhittable for a good portion of the season, yet flew incredibly under the radar during this time.

Bidois spent the 2025 season moving between High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A, dominating hitters wherever he went. He finished the year with a 0.74 ERA in 61 innings, striking out 69 batters as well. Notably, Bidois never allowed a home run during the 2025 campaign, which speaks volumes to his ability to keep hitters from making solid contact.

Bidois’ most impressive feat came when he went without allowing a hit from July 29 to September 14. He faced 64 batters during this period, also receiving a promotion in the middle of this streak. He went unfazed in Triple-A, not allowing a single recorded barrel in his 13 innings at the level.

The Pirates have made a few solid upgrades to their bullpen this winter, such as Gregory Soto and Mason Montgomery, but there could be some competition this spring for a big-league opportunity in the bullpen.

For example, Yohan Ramirez is currently projected by RosterResource to be a part of the bullpen, but he struggled in 33.1 innings last year, posting a 5.40 ERA in this span. If Bidois pitches well enough, he could certainly beat out pitchers like Ramirez for bullpen roles during spring training.

Bidois has proved he’s ready for the big leagues, and once he’s given that opportunity, I do not doubt that he’ll succeed tremendously.