Pirates All 40: No Matter the Role, Braxton Ashcraft Shined in Rookie Season
This is one in a series breaking down players on the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 40-man roster.
For the first time in a while, Braxton Ashcraft made it through an entire season in good health.
It was fortuitous timing for the right-hander as the 2025 season marked Ashcraft’s first season in the big leagues, and what a year it was.
Ashcraft combined for 118 innings between Triple-A Indianapolis and the Pirates, by far the most of his career. His previous career-high as a professional was just 73 innings last year between Indianapolis and Double-A Altoona.
Though Ashcraft struggled to a 5.03 ERA through 10 starts to begin the year at Triple-A, the Pirates had enough faith in the now 26-year-old to call him up to the big leagues on May 26. He initially was used as a relief pitcher, a recurring theme for young Pirates’ pitchers during the 2025 season.
Each of Ashcraft’s first seven appearances came out of the bullpen, and he posted a 1.54 ERA to begin his career while recording the first win of his career on June 8 against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Ashcraft made his first big-league start on June 23 against the Milwaukee Brewers and threw three-scoreless innings before going back to the bullpen. In 18 games as a relief pitcher with the Pirates, Ashcraft owned a solid 3.22 ERA.
In the latter part of the season, Ashcraft was primarily used as a starting pitcher and had even more success. In eight starts in his rookie season, Ashcraft has a stellar 2.16 ERA and limited opponents to a .587 OPS.
All in all, it was a strong rookie campaign for the Pirates’ second round pick in the 2018 draft. Across his 26 appearances, Ashcraft finished the year 4-4 with a 2.71 ERA and struck out 71 batters in 69.2 innings.
Heading into the 2026 season, the Pirates have flexibility with Ashcraft and it might be wise to continue using him in a swing role given his injury history. He has the stuff to be a high-leverage relief pitcher but also showed he can handle being a starting pitcher in the big leagues.
In their quest for adding offense this winter, it’s possible Ashcraft could be used in a trade to find some. General managers from the other 29 teams in the league will no doubt have interest in him given what he showed as a rookie.
But if Ashcraft is back in 2026, manager Don Kelly will have his choice of how he utilizes him. And if he’s able to replicate his ’25 season, it will be a big luxury for the Pirates.
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