Pirates Top 30 Prospects No. 17: Yordany De Los Santos Hoping to Figure Out Bradenton

This is one in a series of stories breaking down PBN’s Top 30 Pittsburgh Pirates prospects.

Yordany De Los Santos was the prize of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ international signings class when he signed out of the Dominican Republic for $1.2 million in January 2022.

De Los Santos had a steady first season in the Dominican Summer League after signing and took a huge step forward in the Florida Complex League the next season. With the FCL in 2023, he slashed .328/.397/.463 with six doubles, a homer, 15 RBIs and 13 steals in 17 games.

On the 4th of July, he was promoted to Low-A Bradenton but scuffled in 38 games. He finished his first stint with the Marauders with a lowly .184/.322/.256 batting line with only five extra-base hits.

To start the 2024 season, the Pirates assigned De Los Santos back in the FCL, and the 19-year-old shined. In 57 games to begin the season, he hit .344 with a .912 OPS, eight doubles, four triples, five home runs, 34 RBIs and 24 steals.

For the second-straight year, he received an in-season promotion to Bradenton but once again struggled. De Los Santos finished under the Mendoza Line again with a .195 batting average and a .564 OPS in 25 games with the Marauders to close out the season.

Though he’s had his challenges across two stints in Low-A, De Los Santos was the second-youngest player to play for the Marauders this season. With youth on his side, De Los Santos will look to take a leap forward in 2025, and he just might have the tools to do so,

Scouts feel the De Los Santos has a good feel for the game and already possesses good instincts despite his age. Though he doesn’t have elite speed, De Los Santos has already stolen 70 bases in 83 attempts in 196 games in the minor leagues.

He’s already shown some power at times and should be able to add to his 6-foot-2, 170-pound frame and tap into more power as he physically matures.

Defensively, De Los Santos has primarily served as a shortstop but might have to move to third base in the future. He does have experience at both third and second base in addition to shortstop.

Though his talent hasn’t yet translated from the FCL just yet, De Los Santos is still one of the better Pirates’ position player prospects in the system. With an entire offseason to work and another year older for De Los Santos, maybe 2025 will be the year he breaks out.