6 Prospects Worth Watching at Pirates Spring Training
The Pittsburgh Pirates have no shortage of intriguing prospects joining big-league camp in Bradenton this year.
While not every prosect in attendance at Pirate City will not yet be fighting for a spot on the Opening Day roster, being around established big-leaguers and the MLB coaching staff will be valuable.
The list of prospects joining the Pirates at camp this season is extensive, but here are six worth keeping a close eye on.
SS Konnor Griffin
Let’s start with the most obvious. Griffin is not only the consensus top prospect in baseball but will be competing for a spot on the Pirates initial roster for the start of the regular season.
Griffin took the world by storm with a stellar first professional season that began in Low-A Bradenton and ended in Double-A Altoona. The 19-year-old combined to slash .333/.415/.527 with 23 doubles, four triples, 21 home runs, 94 RBI and 65 stolen bases in 122 games.
In addition to what he did at the plate and on the bases, Griffin won a minor-league Gold Glove at shortstop. A lot will have to do with how he performs during the Grapefruit League slate, but there’s a real chance Griffin is starting at short as a teenager for the Pirates on Opening Day against the New York Mets.
LHP Hunter Barco
The Pirates got a glimpse of Barco at the very end of last season when he made a pair of scoreless relief appearances and earned his first Major League win.
Barco spent the rest of the season in the minor leagues. He began the year with Altoona and threw 25.2-consecutive scoreless innings across six starts before a promotion to Indianapolis. He made 21 appearances/17 starts at Triple-A and went 3-1 with a 3.79 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 73.2 innings.
Though he might be on the outside looking in initially, there’s a chance the 25-year-old could win the fifth spot in the rotation to begin the year, especially if the Pirate don’t make an external addition before then.
2B Termarr Johnson
Johnson spent the entire 2025 season with Altoona and had a solid year. The 2022 first-round draft pick hit .272 with a .745 OPS (118 wRC+) with 15 doubles, three triples, nine home runs, 35 RBI and 20 stolen bases. Johnson also improved drastically against left-handed pitching.
Will Johnson make the Opening Day roster? No. But he’ll likely begin the season with Indianapolis and could potentially reach Pittsburgh at some point this season.
While Johnson is no longer considered a top 100 prospect, there are still reasons to believe he can be a solid big-league player. Keep in mind that the 21-year-old has consistently been one of the youngest players in the league he’s played in.
OF Jhostynxon García
García was the first notable addition for the Pirates this offseason when he was acquired from the Boston Red Sox in a five-player trade that sent right-hander Johan Oviedo the other way.
García had a brief stint with Boston last year for his MLB debut but spent the majority of the season blocked by a crowded outfield and in the minor leagues. He performed particularly well in Triple-A, where he hit .271 with an .833 OPS, 12 doubles, three triples, 18 home runs and 58 RBI in 81 games with Worcester.
The 23-year-old will compete for a fourth outfield spot this spring. Like Barco, he might be on the outside looking in, but he should see time with the Pirates at some point during the year.
RHP Antwone Kelly
The Pirates protected Kelly from the Rule 5 Draft this offseason by adding him to the 40-man roster.
Kelly split the year between High-A Greensboro and Altoona and combined to go 3-3 with a 3.02 ERA in a career-high 25 starts. In 107.1 total innings, he allowed 81 hits, walked 33 and struck out 116.
In addition to seeing him compete in the Grapefruit League, fans will get a look at Kelly during the World Baseball Classic for team Netherlands. While he won’t battle for a rotation spot yet, the 22-year-old is establishing himself as one of the better pitchers in the minor-league system.
INF Duce Gourson
One under-the-radar prospect at camp this spring is Gourson, who more than one person has said to me they feel is one of the more underrated players in the organization.
Gourson, the Pirates’ ninth-round pick in 2024, played 39 games with Greensboro and 56 games with Altoona last season. Between the two levels, the 23-year-old slashed .275/.370/.439 with 21 doubles, two triples, 10 home runs, 38 RBI and 31 steals. He also showed off his versatility with games played at first base, second and third.
Don’t be surprised if Gourson is considered one of the club’s top 30 prospects by this time next year.
More about:Pirates Pirates Farm System