Pirates Top 30 Prospects No. 30: Underrated Duce Gourson Takes Big Step
This is one in a series of stories breaking down PBN’s Top 30 Pittsburgh Pirates prospects.
Ethan Royal Gourson, better known as Duce, was the Pirates’ ninth-round pick in the 2024 draft out of UCLA.
A 2022 Freshman All-American and a 2023 Pac-12 All-Conference Team selection, Gourson owned a .300/435/482 batting line in 168 career collegiate games with the Bruins and hit 49 doubles, 21 home runs, drove in 119 runs and swiped 23 bases.
Gourson began his professional career in the Pirates’ organization in 2024 and totaled 22 games — 11 with Low-A Bradenton and 11 with High-A Greensboro. It was a middling first sample for the San Diego-native, who combined to slash .203/.379/.270 with five doubles, eight RBI and four steals.
But Gourson, who turned 23 years old last month, took a big step forward in 2025 in his time between Greensboro and Double-A Altoona
Gourson spent the first 39 games of the season with the Grasshoppers and hit .261 with a .369 on-base percentage and an .817 OPS with nine doubles, a triple, five home runs and 18 RBI while going 21 for 23 in stolen base attempts.
The lefty-swinging Gourson proved playing in the hitter-friendly South Atlantic League was not the sole reason for his success and continued to perform after a promotion to Double-A. In 56 games with the Curve, Gourson hit .284 with an .803 OPS (134 wRC+), 12 doubles, a triple, five home runs, 20 RBI and 10 stolen bases while helping lead Altoona to the playoffs.
Gourson was named the Eastern League Player of the Week for Sep. 14 after batting .417 (10 for 24) with four doubles, a home run and five RBI.
In addition to his offense, Gourson provides some versatility — an attribute the Pirates have put an emphasis on in recent years. Gourson appeared in games at first base — where he had a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in 22 games between the two levels — second base and third base.
If Gourson builds on his strong sophomore campaign in the Pirates’ organization, he’s someone who could get a chance with the big-league club at some point in 2026. It’s possible he begins the year with Triple-A Indianapolis, or at least gets bumped up to the Pirates’ top affiliate relatively early in the year if he’s with Altoona for the first game of the minor-league season.
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