Stock Up/Stock Down for Pirates Top 10 Prospects

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20250905, The Altoona Curve face the Richmond Flying Squirrels at Peoples Natural Gas Park in Altoona, Pennsylvania (Photos by Harrison Barden)

For a small market team like the Pittsburgh Pirates, the minor-league system is the lifeblood of the organization.

Rarely do the Pirates make big splashes in trades or free agency, so proper drafting and development is the biggest factor in determining success. If things go well, you get players like Paul Skenes and Konnor Griffin. If things don’t go well, you get what largely happened before those two players arrived.

Skenes and Griffin, once top prospects in the organization, are now established players on the Pirates. A new wave of prospects are working their way through the minor league system to impact the big-league club.

Here’s a look at the top 10, and how they are faring so far this season.

1. RHP Seth Hernandez​

• 2026 stats: 4-1, 1.51 ERA, 35.2 innings, 16 hits, six runs, 15 walks, 62 strikeouts, eight appearances/eight starts

Hernandez had his first tough outing in his second start on Friday since getting promoted to High-A Greensboro. Even with the hiccup, the 19-year-old is off to a sizzling start to his professional career and has already emerged as the top pitching prospect in baseball.

Stock: Up

2. OF Edward Florentino​

• 2026 stats: .253/.369/.527, 23 for 91, four doubles, seven home runs, 21 RBI, three steals, 25 games

Florentino’s season got off to a delayed start due to an ankle injury, so it’s been a relatively small body of work for the 19-year-old. His rehab assignment with Low-A Bradenton was phenomenal. His play with Greensboro since coming off the IL has been inconsistent, but he’s displayed the tools that make him a top 100 prospect.

Stock: Neutral

3. LHP Hunter Barco​

• 2026 stats (MiLB): 2-2, 3.00 ERA, 18 innings, 19 hits, 11 runs (six earned), nine walks, 25 strikeouts, six appearances/three starts
• 2026 stats (MLB): 0-1, 7.71 ERA, 11.2 innings, 14 hits, 12 runs (10 earned), nine walks, eight strikeouts, five appearances

Barco was in some tough spots during his two stints with Pittsburgh this season, including a game in which he pitched the final 4.2 innings of relief after arriving right at game time only to be optioned after it was over on April 28. He hasn’t consistently been able to get outs in the big leagues, but his Triple-A work has been pretty strong. Until he shows he can do it at the big-league level, the borderline preseason top 100 prospect isn’t viewed as one currently.

Stock: Down

4. OF Jhostynxon Garcia​

• 2026 stats (MiLB): .242/.291/.463, 23 for 95, three doubles, six home runs, 13 RBI, 25 games
• 2026 stats (MLB): .308/.308/.308, 4 for 13, one RBI

The Pirates recently promoted Garcia to the big leagues and he’s recorded at least one hit in each of the three games he’s played in so far. Like Florentino, he spent some time on the injured list which limited his season in the minor leagues. But Garcia did have a game with Triple-A Indianapolis in which he went 5 for 5 with three homers.

Stock: Neutral

5. 2B Termarr Johnson​

• 2026 stats: .155/.272/.186, 20 for 129, four doubles, nine RBI, eight steals, 40 games

Let’s be frank. It’s been a disastrous start to the season with Indianapolis, his first try at Triple-A. Johnson has been stuck in a slump all season. His walk rate is in a good spot and he’s been successful in stealing bases, but he’s struggled to make consistent contact and has shown almost no power. It’s too soon to write off the 21-year-old, but his stock has taken a hit this year.

Stock: Down

6. INF Wyatt Sanford​

• 2026 stats: .280/.411/.490, 40 for 143, 10 doubles, one triple, six home runs, 20 RBI, 17 steals, 38 games

Sanford has opened some eyes with his play in Greensboro this season. The slick-fielder has turned it on with the bat. While his 34.8% strikeout rate must come down to prove he can be a sustainable contributor, he’s largely performed well in his first year at High-A.

Stock: Up

7. RHP Antwone Kelly​

• 2026 stats: 2-4, 5.56 ERA, 43.2 innings, 46 hits, 34 runs (27 earned), 20 walks, 38 strikeouts, 10 appearances/nine starts

The Pirates sent Kelly to Indianapolis to start the season after only 11 starts with Double-A Altoona last year. It’s been a rocky start for the 22-year-old, who was added to the 40-man roster in the offseason. Given the struggles in the bullpen for the Pirates this year, they might need him at some point if he’s able to turn things around.

Stock: Down

8. C/1B Rafael Flores Jr.​

• 2026 stats: .204/.316/.333, 30 for 147, five doubles, one triple, four home runs, 24 RBI, 41 games

Flores hasn’t had the season he was hoping for with Indianapolis this year, which is part of the reason the Pirates promoted Endy Rodríguez instead of him when Joey Bart went on the injured list. General manager Ben Cherington was high on Flores when he was acquired from the Yankees for David Bednar at last year’s deadline, but so far, that faith hasn’t panned out.

Stock: Down

9. OF Esmerlyn Valdez​

• 2026 stats (MiLB): .253/.381/.506, 40 for 158, 10 doubles, 10 home runs, 29 RBI, 46 games
• 2026 stats (MLB): .000/.250/.000, 0 for 3, one game

Valdez made his MLB debut for the Pirates in Friday night’s loss to the Toronto Blue Jays and went 0 for 3 with a walk. The 22-year-old was sizzling with Indianapolis at the time of his promotion and has had a solid season overall, leading to a debut that came sooner than come expected.

Stock: Up

10. INF Sammy Stafura​

• 2026 stats: .188/.284/.344, 12 for 64, one double, three home runs, seven RBI, two steals, 18 games

Stafura, acquired from the Reds in last year’s Ke’Bryan Hayes trade, has had two stints on the injured list this year, the second of which has sidelined him since early on this month. When healthy, he hasn’t played great, but part of that might be not being able to find a rhythm with all the time missed.

Stock: Down


The post Stock Up/Stock Down for Pirates Top 10 Prospects appeared first on Pittsburgh Baseball Now.

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