MLB Insider Offers High Praise For Exciting New Pirates Prospect

With Major League Baseball’s trade deadline now in the rear-view mirror, much of the primary focus has shifted back to the games being played on the field. And despite being sellers last week and trading away notable names such as Ke’Bryan Hayes, Bailey Falter and David Bednar, the Pittsburgh Pirates have gone 7-3 over their last ten games and have looked like a team prepared to play hard over the final two months of the season.

That said, the final eight weeks of the season will likely be an audition for a few prospects acquired in last week’s deals. With the Pirates’ front office switching focus to 2026 and beyond, new additions such as catcher Rafael Flores could make their MLB debut when rosters expand to 28 players on September 1.

Still, the final eight weeks of the season will likely be an audition for a few prospects acquired in last week’s deals. With the Pirates’ front office switching focus to 2026 and beyond, new additions such as catcher/first baseman Rafael Flores, who was one of three prospects acquired from the New York Yankees for Bednar, could make their MLB debut when rosters expand to 28 players on September 1.

Flores, who was ranked as the No.8 prospect in the Yankees system at the time of the trade, was hitting .287 with 15 home runs and 56 RBIs with Double-A Somerset before a recent promotion to Triple-A. Currently assigned to Indianapolis, the 24-year-old right-handed hitter has gone 3-for-7 with two doubles during his first two games in the Pirates system.

New York Post baseball insider Jon Heyman took to social media on Monday to share his feelings regarding the highly touted catching prospect.

“(I) think the Pirates got a good one in catcher Rafael Flores, who’s off to a nice start for Triple-A Indianapolis. (He) came over in the Bednar deal. (The) Yankees are great at developing catchers and have traded several good ones away,” wrote Heyman.

New York’s track record of producing solid defensive catchers is very well established, with Boston Red Sox rookie backstop Carlos Narváez a recent example of the Yankees developing catchers capable of handling a pitching staff and controlling the running game. Traded to Boston last winter, Narváez has thrown out a league-leading 20 base runners this season and ranks fifth in catcher framing with a 43.9% strike rate, according to Statcast.

With Flores’ offensive upside already a clear carrying tool, and if his defense can live up to Heyman’s assessment, the Pirates might have their catcher of the future waiting for an opportunity down in Triple-A.

More Pirates: Pirates Reportedly Calling Up Intriguing Pitching Prospect To Bolster Depleted Bullpen