The Pittsburgh Pirates have been enhancing their farm system over recent years, evident in the graduation of many top prospects. This year, standouts like Paul Skenes, Jared Jones, Quinn Priester, Nick Gonzales, and Kyle Nicolas have moved from promising prospects to integral members of the MLB team roster.

Following the conclusion of the deadline and draft, the complexion of the system has significantly shifted. This ushered in an opportune moment for our editorial team to reassess and rank the Pirates’ top 10 prospects in light of various new entries.

Before delving into the list, it’s noteworthy to mention a few individuals who nearly made the mark.

Mike Burrows, the longest-serving prospect up for discussion, was selected in the 11th round of the 2018 draft. His progress accelerated markedly in 2021 and 2022. A setback occurred in April 2023 when he required Tommy John surgery, putting his promising trajectory on pause. Post-recovery, Burrows is returning to form, primarily pitching between 93-96 MPH. He boasts a high-spin fastball and curveball, complemented by an increasingly effective slider and changeup.

The Pirates selected Jack Brannigan in the fourth round of the 2022 draft as a two-way player, but he has since focused solely on fielding. In 2024, he primarily played shortstop, though he was originally drafted as a third baseman and has also played some games at second base. Brannigan is an above-average runner and is anticipated to excel defensively across the infield due to his strong arm, which allowed him to throw fastballs in the upper-90s in college. While currently his batting needs improvement, he holds the potential to become a 20/20 player in the future.

Yordany De Los Santos, a standout international recruit by the Pirates in the 2021-2022 offseason, has proved his mettle in the Florida Complex League at just 19 years old and has recently moved up to A-Ball with Bradenton. De Los Santos is expected to develop above-average power at the plate and is versatile enough to handle positions at shortstop, second base, or third base. Standing at 6’2″ and weighing 170 pounds, his current speed is average, suggesting he might transition to a corner position as he further develops.