Pirates Top Prospects Update: Developing Another Ace?

The minor-league season is only a few weeks old, but there are already a couple top prospects for the Pittsburgh Pirates who are turning heads.

Bubba Chandler is inching closer to reaching the big leagues. Konnor Griffin is in his first professional season. Hunter Barco has yet to allow a run this year and looks like the club’s next top 100 prospect.

Here’s an update on how the Pirates’ top prospects are performing in 2025.

1. RHP Bubba Chandler (Indianapolis)

• 2025 stats: 0-0, 1.76 ERA, 15.1 innings, six hits, three runs, six walks, 23 strikeouts, four appearances/four starts

The Pirates have been conservative with Chandler’s workload to start the season in hopes of keeping him active all year, but it’s only a matter of time before the top prospect is called up. The right-hander has been lights out this season and is holding opponents to a league-leading .120 batting average. It’s clear why he’s considered one of the top pitching prospects in the game.

2. INF/OF Konnor Griffin (Bradenton)

• .235/.344/.412, 12 for 61, one double, one triple, two home runs, eight RBIs, 10 steals, 13 games

Griffin made his professional debut with the Marauders and his intriguing tools have been on display. He showed off his speed by legging out his first-career triple and by going 10 for 13 in stolen base attempts. His 10 steals are second in the Florida State League. Last year’s first-rounder is off to a pretty good start to begin his career, but he’ll need to cut down on the strikeouts (29.5% K-rate).

3. RHP Thomas Harrington (Indianapolis)

• (MLB): 0-1, 10.13 ERA, 8.0 innings, 11 hits, nine runs, five walks, seven strikeouts, one save, two appearances/one start
• (Triple-A): 0-0, 1.80 ERA, 5.0 innings, five hits, one run, two walks, seven strikeouts, two appearances/one start

Harrington made his MLB debut in a start against the Rays in Tampa and made a second appearance that resulted in a 4.0-inning save. While he struggled during his brief time in the big-leagues, he’s looked the part in his two appearances with Indianapolis.

4. 2B Termarr Johnson (Altoona)

• .245/.344/.396, 13 for 53, two doubles, two home runs, six RBIs, five steals, 13 games

Johnson hit his second home run of the season on Tuesday night for the Curve and is off to a decent start. The 20-year-old was struck in a 1 for 15 rut but has three hits in his last nine at-bats with a double and a homer. He still gets on base at a healthy clip.

5. INF/OF Nick Yorke (Indianapolis)

• .227/.320/.386, 10 for 44, four doubles, one home run, two RBIs, one steal, 11 games

Some have called for the Pirates to bring up Yorke given the Pirates’ offensive woes, but between a brief stint on the injured list and a slow start to the season, the 23-year-old is still with Indianapolis. When the Pirates need a replacement on their big-league roster, Yorke will be one of the likeliest to be recalled.

6. RHP Braxton Ashcraft (Indianapolis)

• 1-2, 5.06 ERA, 21.1 innings, 29 hits, 14 runs/12 earned, 11 walks, 22 strikeouts, five appearances/five starts

Ashcraft is one of the “big three” pitching prospects in Triple-A along with Chandler and Harrington, but it’s been a rough start to his season. Opponents are hitting .326 against him and his 4.6 BB/9 is two points higher than his career average.

7. LHP Hunter Barco (Altoona)

• 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 17.2 innings, eight hits, no runs, four walks, 22 strikeouts, four appearances/four starts

You read the ERA right. Barco has been dominant to start the season in Double-A. The left-hander has yet to allow a run and is one of four qualified pitchers to have a 0.00 ERA. He ranks fourth in the Eastern League in WHIP (0.62) and is also fourth with a .143 batting average against.