First Game, First Win: Hunter Barco Handles Key Spot in MLB Debut
CINCINNATI – It didn’t take long for Hunter Barco to get thrown into the fire.
The Pittsburgh Pirates selected the contract of the left-handed pitching prospect prior to Tuesday night’s game against the Cincinnati Reds.
Barco was entrusted with preserving the Pirates’ 4-2 lead when he trotted in from the bullpen in right field at Great American Ball Park ahead of the bottom of the sixth inning for his big-league debut.
The nerves of the dream come true got to Barco at first, but the 24-year-old was able to refocus.
“When I stepped out of the bullpen, I looked around — I don’t know if I stopped or if I took a couple steps walking — but I looked around and I’m like ‘Whoa. Alright, we’re here,’” Barco said after the game. “Jogged out to the mound, first pitch I didn’t really know where it was going to go. I kind of blacked out, but just threw it. After that, it was like, ‘Alright, it’s go time.’ Just playing baseball.”
Simple enough, right? Not quite.
Barco came in to face the heart of the Reds’ lineup. Noelvi Marte, who was batting second for the Reds, lined out sharply to right fielder Alexander Canario for the first out. Gavin Lux singled but was erased when Spencer Steer bounced into a fielder’s choice. But an Elly De La Cruz single brought the potential goahead run to the plate.
After a mound visit from pitching coach Oscar Marin, Barco got Matt McLain to bounce into a 6-4 fielder’s choice to keep the Pirates’ lead intact.
“I thought he was really composed,” manager Don Kelly said of Barco’s first game. “The way those innings with the pressure there and everything going on can get away quickly and he kept everything under control. Did a nice job staying in the zone and getting through that inning.”
Not only did Barco find himself in a big spot of the game, but he pitched in front of 29,847 energized fans dressed in red and white.
The Reds are in the hunt for a wild card spot in the upcoming playoffs, and the atmosphere on Tuesday night was intense.
“I knew that the crowd would be good with what they have on the line, so being able to go out there and compete and win today’s game was awesome,” said Barco.
Barco was the third Pirate to take the mound in the Pirates’ win. Johan Oviedo started the game and lasted 4.2 innings. Dauri Moreta relieved Oviedo and was on the mound when catcher Rafael Flores caught TJ Friedl trying to advance to second base on a ball in the dirt.
While the win could have technically gone to Moreta, the decision is up to the official scorer, who gave it to Barco.
“I was thinking about it towards the end of the game and I was like, ‘It’s either going to be between me or Moreta.’…Thankfully they chose me for the debut,” said Barco. “But it was a toss up between me or Moreta. He went in there and shut the inning down. It was awesome.”
In doing so, Barco became one of four Pirates’ left-handed relievers to earn the win in his MLB debut along with Bill Werle (1949), Joe Gibbon (1960) and Frank Carpin (1965).
Barco joins the Pirates’ active roster as yet another young pitcher with some pedigree. Pittsburgh chose him in the second round of the 2022 draft out of the University of Florida, and MLB Pipeline considers him the 82nd-best prospect in the game. He’s a player the Pirates are eager to get eyes on in the waning days of the 2025 season.
“Electric arm,” Kelly said when describing Barco. “Obviously well deserving of the prospect pedigree. He’s had a really good year in Triple-A. Excited to add him to the mix in the big leagues.”
More about:Pirates