Pirates Minor League Report: Hunter Barco’s Hot Start

Climbing from one tier of the minor leagues to the next can prove challenging for many prospects, but not so for Pirates’ top left-handed pitching prospect Hunter Barco. The 24 year old southpaw hasn’t allowed a run in three starts to begin the season, fanning 14 batters in 13 innings, and has a 0.53 ERA with Altoona dating back to his Double-A debut in 2024.

Barco pitched five innings on Wednesday, April 16, striking out six batters and allowing just one hit. He wasn’t the only Pirates’ pitching prospect to enjoy a strong week on the mound, as Antwone Kelly dropped his ERA to 0.82 after four scoreless innings with High-A Greensboro; Po-Yu Chen struck out five batters in five innings of one-run ball with Altoona, while top overall prospect Bubba Chandler fanned five batters across 4.2 innings on an efficient 69 pitches.

Pirates affiliates have struggled to an uninspiring 33-30 mark so far this season — largely buoyed by an 11-4 start from Greensboro — but that hasn’t prevented prospects from putting on a show at the plate along with their counterparts on the mound.

Offense Aplenty for Young Bucs

Billy Cook finished a homer short of the cycle with Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday, April 15, while 2024 first round pick Konnor Griffin homered and drew a walk. 

The following day it was Jack Brannigan flirting with the cycle in Altoona, logging a single, a double and a home run. Malcom Nuñez hit a pair of doubles that same day, helping Indianapolis to an extra innings walk-off win.

2024 trade acquisition Keiner Delgado hit five doubles on the week, including a double in four consecutive games. Lonnie White Jr. and Javier Rivas both made it on base four times during an April 18 track meet in Greensboro. Both homered and White finished a triple shy of the cycle as the Grasshoppers picked up a 10-9 win. They then followed up that performance with one homer apiece the following game.

Young Bucs’ batters finished the week in style, as Matt Gorski hit two homers and a double in support of Chandler on Saturday, April 19.

Shalin Polanco slugged two homers for Greensboro on Easter, giving him three on the week, and Griffin stole his tenth base of the season that same day.