The Pittsburgh Pirates took a step forward in 2024 with the electric debuts of players like Paul Skenes and Jared Jones. Their pitching development has played an integral role in getting the organization out of neutral and turning a proverbial corner as the 2025 season approaches.
But there’s work to be done.
The Pirates are a team to watch next season. But is their farm system strong enough to get the players they need to make a run at the NL Central?
DEVELOPMENTS
Bubba Chandler is part of the story here. The former No. 3 overall pick (2021) showed above-average stuff and reached Triple-A at the age of 21 — he turned 22 in September. He struggled with control but showed flashes of big-league quality command and strike-throwing, including his final 12 starts when he issued just 19 bases on balls, and five came in one outing.
Chandler possesses four major-league offerings led by a plus fastball that could end up one of the better starter four-seamers in the game, setting up what projects as a 60-grade slider. His curveball is useful and the arm speed on his changeup is consistent, suggesting a chance at a second above-average secondary pitch.
Right-hander Carlson Reed dominated in 17 starts at Single-A and six more in High-A, missing bats with two above-average secondaries in his slider and changeup. He’s a sinkerballer, so his command and ability to generate whiffs with his offspeed is key — which he did in 2024, taking a large step forward up the ladder for the Pirates.
Righty Braxton Ashcraft, 25, pitched his way to the Steel City this season and holds his rookie status into 2025. It’s not dominant stuff, at least not yet, but his four-seamer has big-time value and both his breakers flash as big-league quality pitches. The slider is missing bats and while his changeup is below average and lacks consistency, left-handed batters haven’t touched him. There’s another gear here.
Southpaw Michael Kennedy, 19, pounded the zone in 2024, walking just 19 batters in 83.2 innings, and his slider-changeup secondaries advanced a full grade each.
Thomas Harrington cut his walk rate by more than 40% from 2023, which allows his entire arsenal to play better.
QUESTIONS
The biggest question mark surrounding the Pirates organization going forward is whether or not the team can develop bats. The club has struggled to consistently score enough runs to support its gaudy young pitching staff.
Second baseman Termarr Johnson did reach Double-A this season, though he struggled in 2024 overall, slashing ..238/.372/.385. He’s kept the strikeout totals in check and does take his fair share of walks, but Johnson has struggled to consistently find the fat part of the bat. His ground-ball rates continue to rise and his line-drive rates have continued to fall.
Just 20 years old, Johnson is years from being a finished product, but Pittsburgh needs an infusion of impact in its lineup and Johnson may be the closest form of help they’ll be able to call upon in 2025.
The Pirates are likely to lean on utility prospect Billy Cook and infielder Nick Yorke in 2025 in the hopes of catching lightning in a bottle. Names like Jack Brannigan, Tsung-Che Cheng, and Mitch Jebb will likely see Pittsburgh in 2026, although Brannigan and Cheng were disappointing this past season.
The Pirates have a glut of arm talent at their disposal. Finding ways to supplement that collection with big-league-caliber bats is rather urgent.
ADDITIONS & SUBTRACTIONS
Pittsburgh shipped out RHP Jung-Seok Shim, 3B Garret Forrester, 2B Charles McAdoo, LHP Josh Walker, LHP Ronaldys Jimenez, LHP Luis Peralta, LHP Nicolas Correno and RHP Patrick Reilly this summer in picking up OF Bryan De La Cruz, IF Isiah Kiner-Falefa, LHP Martin Perez, LHP Jalen Beeks, Yorke, and Cook.
In July, the club added several top prospects to the organization via the draft, highlighted by OF Konnor Griffin, RHP Levi Sterling, SS Wyatt Sanford, and LHP Josh Hartle.
GRADUATIONS (since the start of ’24)
Skenes, RHP
Jones, RHP
Nick Gonzalez, 2B
Alika Williams, SS
Carmen Mlodzinski, RHP
Kyle Nicolas, RHP
Ben Heller, RHP
Despite being a young organization, the Pirates didn’t graduate a ton of prospects in 2024. Skenes and Jones both graduated early in the summer, as did right-hander Quinn Priester before being dealt to Boston for York.
Skenes and Jones played enormous roles in the Bucs’ rotation and should be for years to come… or as long the Pirates are willing to pay them.
Gonzales graduated off prospect lists too after being the No. 7 overall pick in 2020 and had a much better run at it than in 2023, improving his average by 61 points, his OBP by 43, and his slug by 50.
Right-hander Kyle Nicolas also worked enough innings to fall off prospect lists in 2024.
BIG-LEAGUE RADAR (yet to debut)
Chandler, RHP
Ashcraft, RHP
Harrington, LHP
Anthony Solometo, LHP
Mike Burrows, RHP
SCOUT SAYS
“It may have snuck up on some, but look at their big-league roster. They have several average or better regulars they developed themselves, including two frontline right-handers, a potential all-star catcher, and a quality shortstop with 30-homer power. It’s a really good start to something that could be a lot bigger, and there is a lot of arms still on the way — they aren’t done there by any stretch.
“(Player Development Director John) Baker and his people seem to be doing a good job handing off players to the big-league staff the last four years. Now if they can compete before they get expensive, or try winning for a while before pulling the plug, ya know? I think they’re onto something here.”
CHURCHILL: Pirates supplement roster at deadline
