Top Pirates Prospect Makes Case For Call-Up With Dominant Performance

Pittsburgh Pirates fans are awaiting Bubba Chandler’s arrival, but his minor league rotation mate is also auditioning for a promotion.

Hunter Barco tossed another gem Saturday, allowing one hit over six scoreless innings for Triple-A Indianapolis. The 24-year-old starting pitcher has surrendered one hit in back-to-back outings, each including seven strikeouts, while permitting one run in his last three turns.

Barco began his 2025 campaign by tossing 25 2/3 shutout frames over six Double-A starts. The 6-foot-4 southpaw faced some growing pains at the next level, issuing 17 walks and 12 runs in his first 19 1/3 innings at Triple-A.

However, the 2022 second-round pick appears to have grown more comfortable in Indianapolis. Although he walked three more batters on Saturday, Barco yielded one free pass in his previous two outings.

Barco’s enhanced workload is also a significant development. MLB.com’s No. 80 prospect hadn’t recorded an out beyond the fifth inning all season before completing six frames in each of his last three starts.

Following his latest effort, Barco has a 1.85 ERA and 81 strikeouts in 63 1/3 innings this season. Opponents are hitting a minuscule .164 against him, keeping his WHIP down to 1.01 despite his walk woes.

It’s been a great holiday weekend for Pittsburgh’s pitching prospect. Three High-A hurlers combined to throw a perfect game on Friday, and Chandler snapped out of a recent funk by throwing six shutout frames on Independence Day.

While the Pirates have exciting arms knocking down the door, their rotation doesn’t need immediate assistance. Their starting staff entered Sunday with MLB’s seventh-lowest ERA (3.64), so they currently have no urgency to call up Barco or Chandler.

That could change with an injury or after the trade deadline, so fans may get a glimpse of the future later this summer.

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