The Pittsburgh Pirates have one of the best farm systems in all of baseball. They have an abundance of prospects coming off promising seasons, most notably Konnor Griffin, Bubba Chandler, and Edward Florentino, just to name a few. However, a handful of Pirates prospects didn’t have such a great 2025. Despite a down year, a rebound could really impact the immediate future of the Pirates. They could feel their impact as soon as this year if they make a comeback.
Jack Brannigan
Jack Brannigan was a third round pick by the Pirates in 2022. After a hot start to his career, Brannigan went through a rough 2026. He only turned in about league average numbers, with a .687 OPS, .324 wOBA, and 103 wRC+ at Double-A Altoona. However, he only appeared in 59 games with 237 plate appearances, missing most of the year with a torn labrum. His last game of the season was on June 13.
While 2025 was a forgettable year for Brannigan, he was outstanding in 2023 and 2024. Between the two seasons, Brannigan batted .257/.368/.508 with a .397 wOBA, and 137 wRC+. The infielder showed off both power and speed. Brannigan went yard 37 times with an isolated slugging percentage of .250. Meanwhile, he also stole 36 bases in 42 attempts. Brannigan did have a below-average 28.1% strikeout rate, but also walked at a healthy 13% rate.
Brannigan has proven to be a very versatile infielder. Brannigan has played shortstop, third base, and second base throughout the minor leagues. He was primarily a third baseman in college, but has proven to be an above-average defensive shortstop. Brannigan also pitched in college, so he has a plus arm and can make any throw from the left side of the infield.
The Pd 5.40 WHIP in 70.1 innings pitched. His K% plummeted to just 16.9% and his BB% rose to 12.4%. He also saw his HR/9 go from a strong 0.65 mark in 2023 to 1.02 in 2024. 2025 was yet another step in the wrong direction for Solometo. He only pitched 10.2 frames, as injury problems derailed any chance of him rebounding last season.
When healthy, Solometo sits low-90s with his four-seam fastball. He will also mix in a slider and a change-up. His biggest strengths are his command and deception. Solometo was considered to have some of the best command of the 2021 draft class. His wind-up hides the ball well, and his low armslot also adds more deception to his stuff.
Despite the last two years not going the way Solometo wanted them to, he is still only 23 years old. He already has experience in the upper-levels of the minor leagues. Solometo is not too unlike Braxton Ashcraft, who also went through a rough patch of injuries in 2020 through 2022, and struggled when healthy. The Pirates’ pitching development is definitely capable of helping Solometo get things back on track. If he can stay healthy, we may see him make the Major irates added Brannigan to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. He also turns 25 in March. If Brannigan hits anything like he did in 2023 and 2024, he may force the Pirates hand, and give him a shot at the Major League level. With so few third base options currently on the roster, he definitely has a potential opportunity to have a big 2026.
Anthony Solometo
Anthony Solometo was once one of the Pirates’ best prospects. The former second round pick ranked as high as a top five prospect in the Bucs’ system by Baseball America, and a top 100 prospect in the sport by MLB Pipeline prior to the 2024 season. That was after he put up a 3.26 ERA, with a 26.2% K%, and 8.6% BB% over 110.1 innings between Greensboro and Altoona in 2023.
However, 2024 was a massive step back for the left-hander. Solometo only had a 5.37 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, anLeagues in 2026.
Thomas Harrington
Thomas Harrington was ranked even higher than Solometo at one point. Heading into just last year, the right-hander was a consensus top 100 prospect. However, he certainly didn’t live up to that hype in 2025. He owned a 5.34 ERA, 5.55 FIP, and 1.31 WHIP in 96 innings at Triple-A. Harrington struck out 21.8% of opponents with an 8% walk rate, but struggled badly with keeping the ball in the park. His HR/9 was 1.88. Harrington also performed poorly in the Major Leagues, albeit in only an 8.2 inning sample size.
But in 2024, Harrington performed great. He worked to the tune of a 2.61 ERA, 3.11 FIP, and 0.96 WHIP in 117.1 innings between Altoona and Indianapolis. He had a healthy 25.1% K%, and 0.69 HR/9 ratio. However, he was great at limiting walks. Harrington’s BB% clocked in at 4.1%. It was the fourth lowest mark by any minor league pitcher who made at least 20 starts in 2024.
Harrington’s control is the best part of his game. His fastball velocity is pedestrian, as he clocks in around 92 MPH. He has a plethora of secondary pitches. Baseball America grades out a curveball, slider, cutter, splitter, and a sweeper. Both his splitter and sweeper project as above-average offerings. While his fastball may not overpower opponents, it did show off good arm-side movement at the Major League level.
2025 was a down year for Harrington, but he was a top 100 prospect in all of baseball at this time last year. He is still very much a future rotation candidate for the Pirates. Getting him to rebound in 2025 for the Pirates would be massive. He would be one of the first Pirates pitchers to take over a long-relief or rotation spot if he gets off to a good start in 2026.
