The Pirates graduated several high‑end prospects, including Konnor Griffin, yet the system remains strong — anchored by one of the few pitching prospects you can realistically project as a future fantasy ace: Seth Hernandez. Edward Florentino and Murf Gray both delivered excellent 2026 campaigns and look poised to help Pittsburgh in 2028, or 2029 at the latest. The Pirates played it safe at the draft table in July with Derek Curiel, but he should hit and has a chance to produce steady 15‑15 seasons.
The depth doesn’t stop with the top four players. There are plenty of gems throughout the system. In fact, the Pirates boast four Top‑100 prospects and 19 players inside the Top‑500.
Prospect Snapshot
- Top Prospect: Seth Hernandez
- Biggest Mover: Murf Gray
- Biggest Disappointment: Termarr Johnson
- Emerging Prospect: Johan De Los Santos
1. Seth Hernandez (RHP)
- Highest Level: High-A ETA: 2028 Fantasy Ceiling: Fantasy Ace
- Last Updated: 10/20/2026
- Tools Summary: Ace‑level arsenal with dominance, youth, and true frontline rotation upside.
Seth Hernandez was the Pirates’ first‑round pick in 2025 (No. 6 overall), and based on his start to 2026, the teams drafting ahead of Pittsburgh have to be muttering the same thing: we missed something. Hernandez was unhittable early, pairing elite stuff with a real feel to pitch. He opened the year in Low‑A and struck out 50 in six starts with a 0.96 ERA before earning a promotion to High‑A, where he had some growing pains — mostly due to spotty location and too many walks (4.7 BB/9). Even so, he posted a 3.33 ERA as a 19‑year‑old in High‑A, which is extremely impressive.
He strained an oblique in late July and missed the remainder of the season.
Hernandez already works with a four‑pitch mix. The fastball sits 97 mph and reaches the upper‑90s with the kind of spin that lets him dominate at the top of the zone. His changeup is already a plus pitch and a major reason hitters haven’t touched him. The slider is downright vicious, spinning north of 3100 rpm; he doesn’t always land it for strikes yet, but once he does, it’s going to be a nightmare weapon.
If you’re looking for what a future ace looks like, this is the blueprint. Hernandez is a must‑own in all dynasty formats and should only be traded if the return is so outrageous you feel guilty accepting it.
2. Edward Florentine (OF)
- Highest Level: High-A ETA: 2028 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 30 OF with upside
- Last Updated: 10/20/2026
- Tools Summary: Huge power upside with OBP strength, but platoon issues remain a concern.
Now that Konnor Griffin has graduated to the Major Leagues, Edward Florentino becomes the Pirates’ top‑ranked positional prospect. He opened the 2026 season late due to an ankle sprain, but after just nine games in Low‑A he was bumped to High‑A, where he continued to show power, a few too many strikeouts, and a patient, mature approach. Because of a low BABIP, his batting average sat at .235, but that should correct once things normalize.
Florentino’s carrying tool is his potential 70‑grade power paired with both average and OBP. While he’s running now, the speed will taper as he fills out, making 5–10 steals a more realistic long‑term expectation than 30‑plus. The one red flag is the platoon splits. He couldn’t touch lefties in 2025, and while 2026 was better, only three of his 24 home runs came off southpaws. He played all of 2026 as a teenager, so improvement is reasonable to expect — but if it doesn’t come, we’ll need to revisit the ceiling.
Florentino remains one of the premier power prospects in the minors. If it all clicks, he could deliver 30‑plus home runs annually with strong OBP. The platoon issues bear monitoring, but for now he’s firmly a Top‑100 prospect.
3. Derek Curiel (OF, #5)
- Highest Level: DNP ETA: 2028 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 50 OF with upside
- Last Updated: 10/20/2026
- Tools Summary: High‑floor hitter with emerging power and speed in a quick‑moving profile.
Derek Curiel was the Pirates’ first‑round pick in the 2026 draft (No. 5 overall), a logical and safe selection for a high‑floor, hit‑over‑power college bat who should move quickly through the system. As a draft‑eligible sophomore, he hit .350 across two seasons at LSU. While he produced only 13 home runs in 126 games, his average exit velocity was a solid 88 mph (T107), and once he learns to elevate more consistently, there’s at least 15‑homer potential in the bat. He’s also an above‑average runner who should steal double‑digit bases annually.
Unfortunately, he didn’t get any playing time after signing with the Pirates. A long LSU season — one that began with an ankle injury — likely prompted the conservative approach. He should open 2027 in either Low‑A or High‑A.
Curiel is going to hit, and if you trust the underlying data, more power is coming. As a younger draft‑eligible player who just turned 21, he has a longer development arc than most college hitters. Fantasy managers may initially discount the power‑speed blend as light, but the hit tool, on‑base ability, and room for growth make him an early first‑round FYPD target for me.
4. Murf Gray (3B)
- Highest Level: Double-A ETA: 2028-29 Fantasy Ceiling: Corner Infielder
- Last Updated: 10/20/2026
- Tools Summary: Big power with real risk as approach and athleticism limit upside.
Murf Gray was the Pirates’ Competitive Balance pick in 2025 after two strong seasons at Fresno State. He’s a big, physical hitter who produces loud contact with a pull-heavy swing designed to do damage. The aggression is real, though—he expands the zone often and can be beaten by quality breaking stuff.
Gray had no trouble with Low‑ and High‑A, blowing through each level in roughly 40 games. The game sped up on him in Double‑A, and he hit just .258 over 45 games, but ended strong – hitting .317 in September.
He’s a modest athlete who relies more on strength than fluidity, and that has defensive implications. A move off third base feels likely, with first base or even DH the more realistic long-term homes. From a fantasy standpoint, there’s no speed component here; the value comes down to whether he can hit enough to unlock 30-homer power. There’s very little margin for error.
Gray is a divisive fantasy prospect. Betting on massive power with limited athleticism can work—Pete Alonso is the optimistic comp—but the approach puts real pressure on his batting average and OBP. The one-dimensional profile adds volatility, making him a risky but potentially rewarding investment in deeper formats.
5. Khristian Curtis (RHP)
- Highest Level: Majors ETA: 2026 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 50 SP
- Last Updated: 10/20/2026
- Tools Summary: Power arsenal with improving command and legitimate mid‑rotation breakout potential.
Khristian Curtis was a 12th‑round pick in 2023 after undergoing back‑to‑back Tommy John surgeries in college. He’s healthy now, still only 24, and flashing premium stuff with below‑average control. He spent most of 2026 in Triple‑A but did log 17.1 innings in Pittsburgh in relief, posting a 4.67 ERA.
His arsenal is led by a big fastball that averages 96 mph (topping at 99) with plenty of spin and 17 inches of induced vertical break. He throws it only 40% of the time, but given its effectiveness, he may want to lean on it more. His cutter is his best secondary pitch — thrown hard at 92 mph and capable of missing bats. The changeup is unusual: it has the typical 10‑mph velocity gap but doesn’t fade like most changeups. Instead, it features high spin and simply drops off the table.
If the control continues to improve, Curtis could be rounding into a No. 3 starter — maybe more, given how good the arsenal looks. He’s not a household name, which is reflected in the fact that he’s rostered in only half of my dynasty leagues. With the Major Leagues within reach, it’s time to get him rostered if he’s still available.
6. Johan De Los Santos (SS/2B)
- Highest Level: Low-A ETA: 2028-29 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 15 3B
- Last Updated: 10/20/2026
- Tools Summary: Elite speed, strong contact skills, and fast‑moving leadoff‑hitter upside.
The younger brother of Yordanny De Los Santos, Johan signed for $2.5 million in 2024 and has quickly shown why. His carrying tool is his 80‑grade speed, which produced 39 steals in 52 games. He still needs to get stronger — a 56% ground‑ball rate reflects that — but he’s always made quality contact and rarely chases.
The Pirates started him in the Florida Complex League, but after he hit .346 over the first two weeks, they bumped him to Low‑A. He only hit .218, but continued to run wild, even as one of the youngest players in the Florida State League. He’s not a big kid and will likely never offer more than 5–8 home runs annually, but the hit tool and elite speed give him a clear identity.
Fantasy managers should view De Los Santos as a classic leadoff type with 40‑steal upside and enough pop to rack up doubles. He’s not as well‑rounded as his brother, but his on‑base ability and game‑changing speed could ultimately make him the more valuable fantasy piece.
7. Axiel Plaz (C/1B)
- Highest Level: High-A ETA: 2028-29 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 15 Catcher or Top 15 1B
- Last Updated: 10/20/2026
- Tools Summary: Huge raw power with contact skill, but chase rate drives real risk.
Axiel Plaz signed with the Pirates in 2022 and has been slowly working his way through the minor leagues, largely because the organization has focused on developing him behind the plate. As his bat has taken off, though, the Pirates have begun giving him more time at first base — a shift that could accelerate his path to the Majors.
Plaz’s carrying tool is power. He hits the ball extremely hard, with average EVs over 90 mph and peaks at 115. Once he improves his launch angles, there’s legitimate 30‑home‑run potential, perhaps even more if he moves to first base. The biggest question is whether he’ll hit enough. He makes good contact — striking out just 17% of the time in High‑A — but he chases a ton, and I worry about how that will play once he starts seeing better spin in Double‑A.
If it all comes together, Plaz could be a 30‑homer bat at catcher or, more likely, first base. There will be pressure on his batting average, but given how hard he hits the ball, a .250–.260 mark seems reasonable. The OBP may be a challenge given the approach. The risk is high, but the fantasy payoff could be substantial if he hits enough. I’ve set his ceiling as a Top 15 catcher or Top 15 first baseman.
8. Wyatt Sanford (SS)
- Highest Level: High-A ETA: 2027-28 Fantasy Ceiling: Middle Infielder with upside
- Last Updated: 10/20/2026
- Tools Summary: Explosive athlete with 20‑20 upside if swing decisions improve.
Wyatt Sanford is one of the more tooled‑up players in the Pirates system—no small feat given the level of athleticism they’ve accumulated. He brings plus speed, enough bat speed and strength to project future power, and until 2026, he had shown an encouraging blend of approach and contact skills. The jump to High‑A was a real test, though, and the strikeouts spiked to a concerning 31%.
Despite the whiffs, the swing itself remains a selling point. It’s simple, efficient, and naturally geared for loft. The issue isn’t the mechanics—it’s the approach. Sanford is expanding the zone far too often, and the hope is that with more reps at the level, the chase rate stabilizes and the strikeouts come back to earth.
Sanford is the definition of high‑risk, high‑reward. At the top of the projection, he could be a 20‑20 contributor with the potential for even more stolen bases. The question is how much he’ll hit. I’m buying the swing, the athleticism, and the youth, and I think he’ll make enough contact for the tools to play.
9. Mitch Jebb (OF)
- Highest Level: Triple-A ETA: 2027 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 60 OF with upside
- Last Updated: 10/20/2026
- Tools Summary: Speed, contact, and emerging pop give Jebb quiet outfield fantasy appeal.
Mitch Jebb spent 2.5 months on the IL with a fractured thumb that included ligament damage. He spent most of the season in Triple‑A and played well, showing more power than he had in the past. His average exit velocity was a solid 88.5 mph — far better than expected coming into the year. However, he’s still a ground‑ball hitter and needs to elevate more to fully capitalize on how hard he hits the ball.
He remains a 70‑runner, and while his stolen‑base totals dipped, that was likely because he slides head‑first and didn’t want to risk re‑injuring the thumb. Jebb makes solid contact, and while there’s some chase in his approach, he posts excellent in‑zone contact rates.
I don’t see a star, but Jebb could develop into a sneaky fantasy contributor with a small tweak to his swing. With a bit more leverage, he could grow into a 10–12 home‑run second baseman who adds 20‑plus steals and a .260–.270 batting average. That’s a useful profile as a number four outfielder.
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