Pirates All 40: Braxton Ashcraft a Budding Star?

This is one in a series of stories breaking down members of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 40-man roster.

The Pittsburgh Pirates’ track record of developing pitching in recent years has been impressive.

Paul Skenes won the 2024 Rookie of the Year. Jared Jones flashed plenty of potential in his first season in the big leagues. Carmen Mlodzinski has become a big part of the team’s bullpen. Just to name a few.

More help appears to be on the way. Three of the Pirates’ top five prospects are pitchers in Triple-A. Bubba Chandler is the consensus No. 1 prospect in the organization and it looks like he has what it takes to be a top-of-the-rotation arm. Thomas Harrington, the 36th-overall pick in 2022, has plenty of potential too.

The third Pirates’ pitching prospect who is knocking on the door to the big leagues is right-hander Braxton Ashcraft.

After a slow start to his career, one that was sidetracked by Tommy John surgery in 2021, Ashcraft has emerged as legitimate pitching prospect in the Pirates’ organization.

In his first three seasons in the Pirates’ system across three levels, Ashcraft carried an ERA in the mid-5.00’s. But since returning from Tommy John surgery, he’s looked like a completely different pitcher.

The right-hander split the 2023 season between High-A Greensboro and Double-A Altoona, totaling 19 starts. Combined between the two levels, he finished with a healthy 2.39 ERA and struck out 41 batters in 38.2 innings.

Ashcraft spent the bulk of this past season back in Altoona, where he went 2-2 with a 3.69 ERA before a promotion to Triple-A Indianapolis. In five appearances/four starts with the Indians, he was charged with just one earned run in 19.1 innings while continuing to feature excellent control. He logged a career-high 73 innings and set a career mark with 77 strikeouts.

Injuries have been a concern for the 25-year-old throughout his career. In addition to Tommy John surgery, Ashcraft had surgery on his left shoulder in 2019. He also had three stints on the injured list in 2024.

But the talent is there. If Ashcraft stays healthy and continues to expand his workload, the Pirates could have another exciting arm joining their rotation soon.

Background

• The Pirates drafted Ashcraft in the second round of the 2018 draft and signed him to an over-slot deal worth $1.83 million. He’s looking to become the first player selected from Robinson High School in Texas to reach the big leagues.
• Ashcraft was added to the Pirates’ 40-man roster last offseason to protect him from being selected in the Rule 5 draft.
• Since returning from Tommy John surgery, he’s averaging 1.6 walks per nine innings and 10.1 strikeouts per nine.