MLB Pipeline: Pirates Have Top Prospect At Multiple Positions

The future is looking bright for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Last week, MLB Pipeline updated its list of the top 100 prospects in the minors and the top 30 prospects on each club. The Pirates have the top prospect at not one, but two different positions.

Bubba Chandler is the top right-handed pitching prospect. Seth Hernandez, who’s still in rookie ball, is the No. 4 right-handed pitching prospect.

“Every pitcher on this list has an above-average fastball, with four earning 70 grades — including the top-ranked pitcher, the Pirates’ Bubba Chandler — and the Mets’ Jonah Tong (No. 7) at 65 thanks to elite induced vertical break from his deceptive over-the-top delivery,” MLB.com’s Ben Weinrib wrote Monday. “This group is ready to contribute too, with all but recent first-rounders Seth Hernandez (No. 4) of the Pirates and Ryan Sloan (No. 6) of the Mariners in the upper Minors or Majors currently.

“In all, 16 righties landed on the Top 100, and none on the Top 10 RHP list rank lower than 73,” Weinrib added.

Chandler is 5-6 with a 4.05 ERA in 24 starts for Triple-A Indianapolis. Hernandez, the No. 6 pick overall in the 2025 MLB Draft, is in Florida with the FCL Pirates.

But wait, there’s more. The Pirates also have the top-ranked shortstop prospect.

“Shortstop is as deep in the Minors today as any hitting position has ever been, with 30 players on the Top 100. Baseball’s top six prospects, led by the Pirates’ Konnor Griffin, are all shortstops, and the last player on this ranking is the Nationals’ Eli Willits, the first overall pick in 2025,” Weinrib wrote. “That means that poor Boston’s Franklin Arias (MLB No. 24) can’t even crack the top 10 for his position.

“What’s even more incredible is how young this group is. The Cardinals’ JJ Wetherholt (No. 6) is the elder statesman at 22, and seven are still teenagers, indicating how much room for improvement they all still have,” Weinrib added.

Griffin, the top prospect overall, is hitting .332 with 16 home runs, 72 RBIs and 59 stolen bases across 101 minor-league games this season.

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