Pittsburgh Pirates Farm System: The Pirates’ farm system is headlined by Konnor Griffin—the No. 1 prospect in baseball—and backed by a mix of high-ceiling talent, volatile power-speed profiles, and emerging arms that offer both promise and risk.
Summary
The Pirates’ system is anchored by Konnor Griffin, the No. 1 prospect in baseball and a true five-tool talent. Griffin blends elite athleticism with impact potential across the board, and if the hit tool holds, he could become a fantasy cornerstone. He’s joined at the top by Bubba Chandler, whose plus fastball and slider give him top-of-the-rotation upside; Seth Hernandez, a raw high school pitcher with tons of upside; and Termarr Johnson, whose elite plate discipline and emerging power continue to intrigue despite defensive questions. This top tier gives the system a strong foundation of high-ceiling talent.
Beyond the headliners, the system is filled with toolsy, volatile profiles. Prospects like Esmerlyn Valdez, Darell Morel, and Jhonny Severino boast 70-grade power or plus speed, but swing decisions and contact rates remain inconsistent. On the mound, arms like Thomas Harrington and Jeter Martinez offer intriguing pitch shapes and athleticism, though both need refinement in fastball command and overall control. The Pirates have shown recent success developing pitchers with nontraditional arsenals, and these two fit that mold.
AI-Assisted Fantasy Tiers: Methodology and Observations
AI has made significant strides in all aspects of our lives. Over the past four years, I have compiled 500,000 words of personal scouting narratives, which have formed the foundation for training my own AI assistant. This assistant now evaluates prospects and assigns fantasy tiers exclusively based on the insights and observations contained in my write-ups.
After requesting that my AI assistant generate fantasy tiers using this year’s reports, I found that the AI’s rankings generally align with my own assessments. However, there are some cases where the AI’s evaluations differ from my personal rankings. I am sharing those differences here for your consideration.
🥇 Tier 1: Fantasy Impact Targets
- Konnor Griffin – 20–40 upside with elite tools and improving contact. A future fantasy star.
- Bubba Chandler – Athletic righty with top-30 SP potential. Arsenal remains strong despite command hiccups.
- Edward Florentino – 30-HR power and 35-SB speed. If the contact holds, he’s a fantasy monster.
🥈 Tier 2: Everyday-Upside Targets
- Termarr Johnson – OBP machine with 15+ HR and 12+ SB potential. Quietly productive across formats.
- Seth Hernandez – 100 MPH fastball and starter traits. Long runway, but top-30 SP ceiling if it clicks.
- Hunter Barco – Mid-rotation lefty with improved velocity and secondaries. Tough angles and matchup value.
- Keiner Delgado – Speed, contact, and emerging pop. If the swing decisions improve, he’s a fantasy MI with upside.
- Yordanny De Los Santos – Power-speed threat with swing-and-miss risk. Could be a Top 15 fantasy 3B.
🥉 Tier 3: Outside of the Impact/Everyday Targets
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2026 Player Profiles
1. Konnor Griffin (SS/OF)
- Highest Level: Double-A ETA: 2026 Fantasy Ceiling: First Round Pick
- Last Updated: 10/14/2025
- Tools Summary: 20–40 upside with elite tools and improving contact. A future fantasy star.
Konnor Griffin might be the most electric player in the minor leagues right now. A 70-grade athlete with elite speed, raw power, and a plus arm, he made significant strides with his contact rate in 2025—especially after his promotion to High-A. Nothing slowed him down: after starting the year in Low-A, he climbed to Double-A by August 19 and finished the season there, slashing .333/.415/.527 with 21 home runs and 65 stolen bases across 122 games.
At 6-foot-4, Griffin’s swing is naturally long, which may cap his contact ceiling, but he hits the ball so hard that he’s consistently posted a high BABIP—helping offset any swing-and-miss concerns. He’s shown the ability to adjust, and the improvements in zone contact are real. Even if he never becomes an elite bat-to-ball hitter, the tools are loud enough to carry him.
Fantasy managers should treat Griffin as a potential 20–40 monster with star-level upside. If the hit tool continues to trend upward, he could become a franchise cornerstone in both real life and Dynasty formats.
2. Bubba Chandler (RHP)
- Highest Level: Majors ETA: 2026 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 30 SP
- Last Updated: 10/14/2025
- Tools Summary: Athletic righty with top-30 SP potential. Arsenal remains strong despite command hiccups.
Chandler remained in the minors until late August 2025 before making a brief MLB debut, and while the timing surprised some, the decision made sense—his season was uneven. He started strong, posting a 1.33 ERA over his first five starts while regularly touching the upper 90s, but command issues resurfaced, finishing with a 4.8 BB/9 across 24 starts.
Despite the walk rate, Chandler remains incredibly athletic and has historically repeated his delivery well, which makes 2025’s inconsistency a bit puzzling. The stuff is still there: a lively fastball, a promising breaking ball, and the physicality to handle a starter’s workload. Assuming health, he should be a fixture in the Pirates’ rotation in 2026.
Fantasy managers should treat Chandler as a high-upside arm with SP2 potential. If the command returns and he tightens the zone, the arsenal is good enough to pitch in the top half of a rotation. Still a buy in formats that reward patience.
3. Seth Hernandez (RHP, #6)
- Highest Level: DNP ETA: 2029 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 30 SP with extreme risk
- Last Updated: 10/14/2025
- Tools Summary: 100 MPH fastball and starter traits. Long runway, but top-30 SP ceiling if it clicks.
The Pirates continued their trend of targeting high-upside prep arms by selecting Seth Hernandez sixth overall in 2025. A physical 6-foot-4 righty, Hernandez features a big fastball, a sharp curveball, and a plus changeup already in the mix. The raw ingredients suggest top-of-the-rotation potential, though there are early flags—his fastball reportedly lacks horizontal movement, and a switch to a two-seamer may be in the cards as he enters pro ball.
Given Pittsburgh’s track record with arms like Bubba Chandler, a deliberate development path is likely. Hernandez has the size, arsenal, and athleticism to thrive, but he’ll need time to refine command and sequencing. Assuming good health, a realistic ETA is 2029—ideally earlier in the season than Chandler’s late-August debut.
Fantasy managers should view Hernandez as a long-term investment with genuine upside. If his fastball shape improves and his command remains steady, he could develop into a high-strikeout starter with significant impact potential. Despite being a high school pitcher, his stuff and the organization make him a solid early target in FYPD.
4. Termarr Johnson (2B)
- Highest Level: Double-A ETA: 2026 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 15 2B
- Last Updated: 10/14/2025
- Tools Summary: OBP machine with 15+ HR and 12+ SB potential. Quietly productive across formats.
It’s taken time, but Termarr Johnson has grown into the high-floor player the Pirates envisioned when they drafted him fourth overall in 2022. Early on, he was overly passive—walking at a 20% clip but striking out more than expected. That changed once he faced pitchers who could consistently throw strikes. His zone awareness kicked in, and he began showing the kind of contact skills and OBP profile that should translate well to the Major Leagues.
Johnson’s swing lacks loft, reflected in a 47% ground ball rate and average exit velocities, but there’s room for growth. As he gets stronger, 20-homer seasons aren’t out of the question. He’s not a burner, but he’s savvy on the bases and should chip in double-digit steals, especially early in his career. The power-speed combo may never be elite, but the overall package is quietly productive.
Fantasy managers should treat Johnson as a top-of-the-order contributor who scores runs, gets on base, and adds just enough pop and speed to matter. He may not be a star, but with 15+ homers, 12+ steals, and strong OBP skills, he’s the kind of player who helps winning teams without drawing headlines.
5. Edward Florentino (OF)
- Highest Level: Low-A ETA: 2027 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 50 OF
- Last Updated: 10/14/2025
- Tools Summary: 30-HR power and 35-SB speed. If the contact holds, he’s a fantasy monster.
Edward Florentino signed for $395,000 and wasted no time making an impression. He dominated the Florida Complex League in 2025, slashing .347/.442/.642 while leading the league in batting average and slugging, and finishing sixth in OBP. His stateside debut confirmed what the Pirates saw: a toolsy athlete with serious upside.
Florentino’s swing is extremely leveraged, and his fly ball rate hit 52% in Low-A—clear signs of a power-first approach. He’s already flashing high exit velocities and posted a respectable 23.5% strikeout rate, though there’s concern that number could spike against better pitching. He’s also a plus runner, swiping 35 bases in 41 attempts, adding another layer of fantasy intrigue.
Fantasy managers should treat Florentino as a high-risk, high-reward bat with 30-homer power and impact speed. If the contact holds, he could be a fantasy force. It’s time to buy in—this profile has juice.
6. Hunter Barco (LHP)
- Highest Level: Majors ETA: 2026 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 45 SP
- Last Updated: 10/14/2025
- Tools Summary: Mid-rotation lefty with improved velocity and secondaries. Tough angles and matchup value.
Hunter Barco has quickly emerged as one of the Pirates’ better pitching prospects. He opened 2025 sitting 94–95 mph and touching 97, pairing the fastball with a slider that plays like a sweeper. His lower three-quarters arm slot creates tough angles, especially for lefties, and while the changeup was once a weakness, he eliminated platoon splits in 2024—suggesting real progress with the pitch.
Barco has consistently thrown strikes, even against more advanced hitters, and the results followed: a 2.81 ERA across 27 games (23 starts) in the minors before earning a late-season call-up to Pittsburgh, where he worked out of the bullpen. The delivery is crossfire and could eventually push him to relief, but the stuff is good and everything seems to be working.
Fantasy managers should treat Barco as a mid-rotation arm with a chance for more. If the changeup holds and the delivery doesn’t limit him, he could carve out a steady role in Pittsburgh. Tough to pick up, especially for lefties, and the Pirates have a track record of maximizing arms like this.
7. Khristian Curtis (RHP)
- Highest Level: Double-A ETA: 2026-27 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 45 SP
- Last Updated: 10/14/2025
- Tools Summary: He has the size and developing arsenal to pitch at the top of the rotation. He also started throwing more strikes as the season went on.
Curtis was a value pick out of Arizona State, falling to the 12th round due to a nerve issue in his elbow, but the stuff easily warranted a higher selection. He bounced back in 2025 with a fastball that sits 94–96 (touching 98) and carries heavy backspin through the zone. His slider spins north of 2600 RPM and flashes plus, while his changeup has taken a step forward—especially against glove-side hitters, where he’s been markedly more effective this season.
Command has been the biggest hurdle. He struggled to throw consistent strikes early in the year, but began landing his pitches more reliably as the season progressed. At 6-foot-5, syncing up the delivery takes time, but there’s enough athleticism here to project solid-average control down the line. The Pirates have a strong track record with arms like this, and Curtis fits their mold.
Fantasy managers should treat Curtis as a mid-rotation candidate with swing-and-miss potential. If the command holds and the changeup continues to play, he could emerge as a legitimate rotation piece. A name to monitor closely in deeper formats.
8. Nick Yorke (2B)
- Highest Level: Majors ETA: 2024 Fantasy Ceiling: Middle Infielder with upside
- Last Updated: 10/14/2025
- Tools Summary: 10–12 HR/SB upside with contact skills. Needs launch angle and approach rebound.
Nick Yorke remains one of the tougher players in the Pirates’ system to pin down. He’s flashed contact, speed, and power at various points, but never consistently year over year. After spending time in the Majors in 2024, he opened 2025 back in Triple-A and was just okay—his strikeout rate climbed to 22%, and he started pounding everything into the ground (52% GB rate), which was a new and concerning trend. He’s still a good runner and should contribute double-digit steals, but his September call-up didn’t offer much in 56 plate appearances.
Despite the inconsistency, Yorke still projects as a full-time starter. He profiles as a .270 hitter with 10–12 home runs and similar stolen base totals. While that’s not flashy, it’s useful. He’s a better player than Nick Gonzalez, even though Gonzalez has performed better by embracing a contact-first approach. Yorke’s upside is higher, especially if he can lift the ball more and tighten his approach.
Fantasy managers should treat Yorke as a middle infielder with some seasons that push beyond the baseline. He’s not a star, but he’s not a placeholder either—and if the contact and launch angle rebound, there’s room for more.
9. Esmerlyn Valdez (1B/OF)
- Highest Level: Double-A ETA: 2027-28 Fantasy Ceiling: Corner Infielder
- Last Updated: 10/14/2025
- Tools Summary: 70-grade power with Soler-like volatility. Could be a 30-HR bat or fringe DH.
Valdez’s carrying tool is his 70-grade power. He swings hard and often, and the ball jumps off his bat with authority. After striking out over 30% of the time in 2024, he made a key adjustment in High-A—becoming more aggressive and letting his power play. The result: 20 home runs in 72 games, leading the Sally League. But after a July 1 promotion to Double-A, he reverted to a passive approach, which spiked his strikeout rate and dulled his impact.
There’s no question Valdez has talent, but whether he hits enough to fully unlock it remains to be seen. Jorge Soler is the benchmark—when Soler’s approach clicked, he was a force; when it didn’t, he struggled to contribute. Valdez profiles similarly: swing decisions will ultimately determine whether he’s a middle-of-the-order threat or a power-only role player.
Fantasy managers should treat Valdez as a volatile slugger with 30-homer upside. Defensively, he’s limited, and a long-term move to DH feels likely. If the bat clicks, he could be a fantasy asset. If not, the swing-and-miss risk could keep him on the fringe.
10. Wyatt Sanford (2B/SS)
- Highest Level: Low-A ETA: 2028 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 15 SS/2B
- Last Updated: 10/14/2025
- Tools Summary: He’s a plus defender with more offense than initially projected.
The Pirates kept Sanford in the Complex after selecting him in the second round, and the extra reps paid off. He opened 2025 in the Florida Complex League, walking as much as he struck out and swiping 13 bases in just three weeks. Promoted to the Florida State League, Sanford slashed .238/.342/.378 with four home runs and 34 stolen bases before landing on the IL on August 1. The early returns suggest a player with real leadoff potential.
Sanford’s best tool is his plus speed, but he’s added strength and should continue to fill out his 6-foot-1 frame. His pitch selection and zone control are excellent, and if the power develops into consistent doubles with 5–10 homers, he could have meaningful fantasy impact. The swing isn’t geared for loft yet, but there’s room for growth.
Fantasy managers should treat Sanford as a sneaky multi-category asset with Top 15 second base upside. If the power doesn’t come, the profile shifts toward speed-and-OBP utility. But if it does, he could become a quietly productive fantasy contributor with leadoff traits.
