In what has been an unfortunate trend for several years, only one player on the Pittsburgh Pirates made MLB Network’s Top 100 Players list for 2026. That selection should be pretty obvious – Paul Skenes won his first Cy Young and jumped from number 15 on the 2025 list to number 7 this year. Barring injury (knock on all the wood you can find), it is safe to assume that Skenes will return to the list next year, if not rise even higher.
However, the Bucs have put together a squad this year that could potentially lead to multiple players appearing on the 2027 version of this list. That would mark the franchise’s first multiple selections since 2019, when Jameson Taillon and Starling Marte ranked number 66 and 100, respectively. Let’s explore who could be most likely to join Skenes, see what a top 100 season could realistically look like, why each player could get there, and how likely it is to happen.
The Best Bet
Konnor Griffin (40%)
Griffin is the consensus number one prospect in baseball, and for good reason. The 6’4 athletic monster completely retooled his swing in his first offseason, leading to an outstanding .941 OPS with 21 homers and 65 steals in his first professional season. On draft day in 2024, not many could have envisioned the 19-year-old making his big-league debut at the beginning of the 2026 season, but it has become increasingly likely that Pirates fans will see Griffin sooner rather than later.
Analysts continue to compare Griffin to previous elite prospects, and perhaps the most striking one is Bobby Witt Jr. The 2022 number-one overall prospect debuted at an extremely young age and, despite some defensive struggles out of position at third base, still managed 20 homers and 30 steals. Even with those growing pains, Witt ranked number 92 following his rookie campaign. Griffin offers comparable power, potentially better baserunning instincts, and profiles as an immediate defensive asset.
If an early-season debut was guaranteed, this probability would be even higher. For now, though, a little less than a coin-flip chance for the most exciting prospect in baseball feels appropriate.
Reasonable Shots
Bryan Reynolds (20%)
It is not difficult to picture Reynolds on the Top 100 list – he appeared from 2022 to 2024. However, his production dipped last year, as his OPS fell below .790 for the fist time in his career (excluding COVID season), and he failed to reach 20 homers for the first time since his rookie year.
Those numbers were largely the product of a brutal start. Reynolds did not find his groove until August, when he returned to being one of the most reliable hitters in baseball. A notable positive was his defense: Reynolds posted a much stronger defensive season in the corner outfield, particularly in right field, compared to the previous year. If he can return to his pre-2025 offensive levels, a Top 100 reappearance is well within reach.
A fitting comparison is Yandy Diaz— a defensively challenged but consistently productive bat who rebounded in 2025 after falling off the list the year prior. Diaz ranked in 2023 and 2024, endured a single outlier offensive season, then bounced back to number 71 this year. If Reynolds follows a similar trajectory, the Bucs’ lineup could finally show real punch again.
Bubba Chandler (20%)
While his surface numbers may not immediately stand out, anyone who watched Bubba Chandler pitch in his limited action last year knows how dominant he looked. Removing his lone disaster outing against Milwaukee, where he surrendered nine runs in 2.2 innings, Chandler posted a 1.59 ERA over just more than 28 innings, walking only one batter while striking out 28.
His arsenal is anchored by a fastball that hits 100 mph and grades out exceptionally well, helping him record five outings of one run or fewer. Under a different ranking philosophy, Chandler’s odds would be higher. MLB Network has historically been hesitant to elevate extremely young pitchers – Nolan McLean, Trey Yesavage and Jacob Misiorowski all failed to crack the list after impressive debuts.
The closest recent is Spencer Strider. After a brief 2021 appearance, Strider exploded in 2022, finishing second in Rookie of the Year voting and ranking number 65. Given the stylistic similarities between the two, the comparison is not unreasonable. Chandler would still need a truly dominant season, but he has already shown flashes of that ceiling.
Needs to take a Big Leap
Jared Jones (15%)
If not for a UCL injury last year, Jones’ odds would be significantly higher. His electric 2024 rookie season drew national attention, with many pairing him alongside Paul Skenes as the foundation of the Pirates’ next competitive window. Losing all of 2025 was a major setback, but the intrigue remains.
Jones is expected back early this year, and if he can navigate the typical post–Tommy John growing pains, the buzz could return quickly. A comparable — albeit optimistic — path would be Garrett Crochet, who missed all of 2022 and still ranked number 56 by 2025. This may be slightly early for Jones, but the upside is undeniable.
Oneil Cruz (15%)
Nearly every offseason of Oneil Cruz’s career has been accompanied by speculation about his immense upside. He has been a perennial breakout candidate, but this winter feels different — there has been noticeably less hype. A rough 2025 season has led many to conclude that Cruz may simply peak as a 20/20 player who hits near the Mendoza Line, strikes out frequently, and provides inconsistent defense.
And yet, Pirates fans once again find reasons for optimism. After years of carrying the lineup as its lone left-handed threat, Cruz finally has protection. The additions of Ryan O’Hearn and Brandon Lowe give opposing pitchers reason to think twice. With more traffic on the bases and less pressure to be the star of the offense, it is easy to envision a world where the owner of the highest exit velocity ever recorded takes a real step forward. Cruz defies easy comparison, and his upside remains as rare as his skill set. The question is whether he can finally tap into it.
Mitch Keller (10%)
Mitch Keller profiles as a dependable innings-eater with an ERA hovering around 4.00, which is a result the Pirates would gladly accept. Once a top prospect, he now anchors one of the youngest pitching staffs in baseball, a quietly invaluable role. Still, it feels as though there may be more there.
Both 2023 and 2024 began with Keller pitching at an All-Star level before fading after the break, watching his ERA balloon from the low-3s into the low-4s. Those stretches suggest a front-line starter exists somewhere beneath the inconsistency. If Keller can trim his ERA by even three-quarters of a run — say, down to 3.25 — he could earn recognition similar to Joe Ryan. After years around 4.00 ERA, Ryan lowered his ERA to 3.42 in 2025 and leapt to number 73 after being unranked the year before. With better luck, Keller could follow suit.
Long Shots
Spencer Horwitz (5%)
Horwitz projects more as a complementary piece than a centerpiece, but another step forward could put him on the fringe. He owns a 120 OPS+ across his first three seasons, making him 20% better than league average. That value comes from great plate discipline, highlighted by a 10.7% walk rate and a 17.7% strikeout rate.
If his power ticks up (12 homers in 2024, 11 in 2025), we could see Horwitz approach a 140 OPS+, a level that begins to attract Top 100 consideration at first base. Michael Busch provides a useful comparison — both were blocked prospects dealt from contenders, posted identical 118 OPS+ seasons at age 27, and then saw Busch explode for 34 homers in 2025 en route to a number 67 ranking. It is a long shot, but not a ridiculous one.
Jared Triolo (3%)
Let’s be clear — nearly all evidence suggests Jared Triolo will remain an above-average utility infielder with a strong glove and a light bat. Still, occasional flashes leave you wondering whether there is untapped offensive upside. After an abysmal first five months, Triolo erupted in August, hitting .315 with an .884 OPS.
Those numbers may not jump off the page, but paired with his elite defense, a .750 OPS season could push him toward five WAR. That may sound extreme, but Triolo posted 2.3 WAR last year with a .667 OPS in just 107 games. At that level, he would resemble players like Steven Kwan, whose defense-driven value still earned him a number 75 ranking despite a .705 OPS.
Braxton Ashcraft (2%)
The final semi-plausible candidate, Ashcraft impressed as a rookie, throwing nearly 70 innings with a 2.71 ERA. A late bloomer, the 26-year-old is expected to receive a full-season look in the rotation after bouncing between roles in 2025. He never allowed more than three runs in an outing and posted strong underlying metrics.
If Ashcraft can maintain that pace over a larger workload, a sub-3.00 ERA across 25 starts is within the realm of possibility. That type of season could land him on the list, much like Andrew Abbott did after posting a 2.87 ERA over 29 starts and ranking number 90.
Miniscule Chance
Brandon Lowe (.5%)
Lowe will likely provide exactly what the Pirates need, even if it does not translate to Top 100 recognition. He has appeared on the list twice before but has not returned since 2022. Given that MLB Network declined to rank him after a solid season last year, a similar 2026 campaign is unlikely to move the needle. Only a return to his 2021 form — 39 homers and a 140 OPS+ — would put him back in the conversation.
Ryan O’Hearn (.5%)
O’Hearn capitalized on a timely career year before reaching free agency, hitting .281 with 17 homers. While he remains a quality bat, particularly against right-handed pitching, his profile likely lacks the ceiling required to crack the Top 100.
Hunter Barco (.1%)
Barco surged up prospect rankings and briefly reached the majors last year, earning placement on some Top 100 prospect lists. The left-hander carries intrigue, and if he receives enough runway and performs at his minor-league level, a Rookie of the Year buzz campaign is not impossible — though the odds remain extremely slim.
