Pirates Top 30 Prospects No. 5: Expect to See Braxton Ashcraft in 2025 if Healthy

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

Braxton Ashcraft’s tenure in the Pirates’ organization was off to a rocky start after he was selected in the second round of the 2018 draft.

Ashcraft made five appearances in the then-Gulf Coast League the year he was drafted and posted a 4.58 ERA. The following season, Ashcraft was with Low-A West Virginia and was tagged for a 5.77 ERA with only 39 strikeouts in 53 innings.

With no minor-league season in 2020, Ashcraft didn’t return to the mound until 2021, when he again produced undesired results with the Greensboro Grasshoppers in the hitter-friendly South Atlantic League.

But Ashcraft’s 2021 season lasted only 10 starts before he underwent Tommy John surgery, which not only sidelined him the rest of the season, but for all of 2022. However, once the right-hander returned to the mound in 2023, Ashcraft looked stronger than ever.

Between his rehab and his performance, Ashcraft split the 2023 season between three different levels and combined for a strong 2.39 ERA and a career-high 63 strikeouts in 52.2 innings pitched. He finished the year with Double-A Altoona, where he posted a miniscule 1.35 ERA in eight starts.

The 25-year-old started 2024 back in Altoona and again pitched well. His performance with the Curve resulted in a promotion to Triple-A Indianapolis, where he made five appearances and was charged with one earned run in 19.1 innings.

The only thing holding Ashcraft back is too much time on the injured list. He had three separate stints on the injured list this past season and only logged 73 innings, which set a career-high. For his career, he’s only pitched 235 innings.

Though it’s taken a while in terms of years, Ashcraft has ascended quickly though the Pirates’ organization when it comes to workload. He’s now one stop away from pitching in the big leagues, and with health, that promotion should come at some point in 2025.