Pirates Top 30 Prospects No. 29: Khristian Curtis Combines for Perfect Game, Handles Tough Environment
This is one in a series of stories breaking down PBN’s Top 30 Pittsburgh Pirates prospects.
It’s not easy pitching for the Greensboro Grasshoppers in the South Atlantic League, but Khristian Curtis proved the challenge wasn’t too difficult in 2025.
Curtis, the Pirates’ 12th-round pick of the 2023 draft out of Arizona State University, made 26 starts in High-A this season and was effective. The right-hander finished the season 8-5 with a 3.98 ERA. In 108.2 innings, Curtis allowed 91 hits, walked 46 and struck out 116.
Curtis was named the South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week for July 5, when he was one of four pitchers to combine for the first perfect game in Greensboro Grasshopper history. Curtis began the feat by covering the first six frames.
The 23-year-old was bumped up to Double-A Altoona at the very end of the season as a reward for a solid season in Greensboro and tossed two-perfect innings out of the bullpen in his lone appearance with the Curve.
Curtis spent the first year of his professional career with Low-A Bradenton last season. In 18 appearances/16 starts with the Marauders, Curtis went 2-3 with a 4.06 ERA and again logged more strikeouts (81) than innings pitched (75.2).
Curtis, who began his college career at Texas A&M before transferring to Arizona State, underwent two nerve transposition surgeries before he was drafted by the Pirates.
The 6-foot-5 Curtis has a lively fastball, which sits in the mid-90s while creeping into the upper-90s at times. He also possesses a slider and curveball — two pitches that could be considered above-average offerings — in addition to a cutter and a changeup.
Given his size and his deep pitch mix, Curtis has the potential to one day be a starting pitcher in the big leagues.
As an organization, the Pirates have a strong track record of developing pitching. There is some work to do with Curtis, but there are some reasons for encouragement as he continues his career.
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