Pirates Top Prospects 30 Prospects No. 11: Jack Brannigan Battles Through Injuries

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

Jack Brannigan’s 2024 season was halted twice due to stints on the injured list. He first hit the IL on June 7 and missed a week and a half. In late July, Brannigan again landed on the shelf with a shoulder injury that held him out until the beginning of September.

But when he was on the field, there were a handful of encouraging signs from the Notre Dame product.

Brannigan displayed both power and speed. In just 77 games, the 23-year-old recorded 35 extra-base hits, 18 of which were home runs, which ranked second on the team. He posted an excellent .252 ISO and drove in 53 runs, one off his career-high. The athletic Brannigan also swiped 12 bases in 15 tries.

Though he only hit .238, Brannigan posted a .344 on-base percentage thanks to a healthy 11.7% walk rate. Strikeouts continue to be a concern for him. He struck out in 26% of his plate appearances, though he did shave about four points off that rate from 2023.

A two-way player in college, Brannigan possesses a strong arm from the hot corner and projects as a quality third baseman. Although his future is probably at third base, Brannigan played more shortstop this past season with High-A Greensboro and received a handful of reps at second base.

Brannigan’s strong arm headlines a strong mix of tools which make him an intriguing player in the Pirates’ system. Polishing his game will be what elevates him into the top crop of prospects. Perhaps avoiding injuries and playing more consistently is all it will take to push him to the next level.