Pittsburgh Pirates News

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Khristian Curtis • SP • Pirates

Pirates Call Up Pitching Prospect Khristian Curtis for Doubleheader

The Pittsburgh Pirates are selecting the contract of right-handed pitching prospect Khristian Curtis from Triple-A Indianapolis for Game 1 of their doubleheader on Saturday against the Cleveland Guardians, according to MLB.com's Alex Stumpf. Curtis is the team's No. 21 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, but he might only be with the Bucs for one day as extra pitching depth for their two games versus Cleveland. The 24-year-old former 12th-rounder in 2023 out of Arizona State University will be making his MLB debut if he gets into a game on Saturday. He started the year at Double-A Altoona before being promoted to Indy despite going 0-7 with a 4.73 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and 67:25 K:BB in 53 1/3 innings over his 12 starts. In six appearances (four starts) at Triple-A, Curtis has gone 2-1 with a 5.57 ERA, 1.67 WHIP, and 30:15 K:BB in 21 frames. If Curtis debuts on Saturday, it will be in a relief role, and he could be sent back to Indy on Sunday, so fantasy managers in AL-only leagues can avoid him for now.

2 days ago

Oneil Cruz • CF • Pirates

Oneil Cruz Moved to 60-Day Injured List

The Pittsburgh Pirates moved outfielder Oniel Cruz (hand) to the 60-day injured list on Saturday, according to Alex Stumpf of MLB.com. There hasn't been a setback in Cruz's rehab from a fractured hand he suffered in June, and he will be eligible to return to the major-league roster on Aug. 8. As long as he doesn't suffer any setbacks with his hand as he begins to ramp up his baseball activities in the coming weeks, Cruz stands a good chance of returning right on Aug. 8. The 27-year-old Dominican must remain stashed in all fantasy formats as a five-category producer when healthy. Before getting hurt, Cruz was slashing .264/.350/.472 with an .822 OPS, 14 home runs, 44 RBI, 45 runs scored, and 21 stolen bases in his 250 at-bats. Cruz led the league in stolen bases with 38 in 2025, and he's had at least 21 steals in each of the last three seasons while also contributing at least 20 homers in the last two campaigns. When Cruz is activated from the 60-day IL in early April, he'll return to being Pittsburgh's everyday center fielder.

2 days ago

Edward Florentino • OF • Pirates

Edward Florentino Nearing Promotion Amid Torrid Stretch at High-A

Pittsburgh Pirates outfield prospect Edward Florentino has continued to swing a scorching hot bat at the High-A level and is making a strong case to receive a taste of Double-A late in the 2026 season. Over his last 14 contests at High-A Greensboro, the 19-year-old outfielder has posted a sharp .283/.338/.683 line with a 1.022 OPS. During this stretch, Florentino has launched six long balls and added four doubles with an 18:5 K:BB. His recent surge is worth noting, as Florentino carried a much lower .212/.366/.412 line with a modest .778 OPS over his first 48 games of the season (shared between both Low-A and High-A). While the No. 30-ranked prospect in the sport remains far from his MLB debut, he is continuing to rise up dynasty rankings and is establishing himself as one of the sport's top outfield prospects.

2 days ago

Esmerlyn Valdez • RF • Pirates

Esmerlyn Valdez a Breakout Rookie to Target on the Waiver Wire

Pittsburgh Pirates rookie outfielder/first baseman Esmerlyn Valdez has taken the league by storm through his first 28 games and 105 plate appearances, hitting .309/.371/.713 with a 1.084 OPS, 10 home runs, 27 RBI, and 21 runs for the Bucs. It all came to a head for the 22-year-old Dominican last weekend in a doubleheader sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers, when he finished the day 4-for-8 with three home runs and eight RBI. Valdez is looking to keep up his hot month of July when the second half starts on Friday. In 11 games so far in July, he has gone 14-for-46 (.304) with four home runs, two doubles, a triple, 15 RBI, and 11 runs scored. Per MLB Pipeline, Valdez is Pittsburgh's No. 9 prospect. The 6-foot-2, 234-pounder made a concerted effort to improve his conditioning and approach at the plate in the last year, and it's really showing up during his MLB debut in 2026. Valdez's glove is nothing special, but if he keeps hitting like this, the Pirates will continue to run him out there every day. He won't be able to keep up his current pace through the rest of the season, but Valdez is one of the hottest young power bats to target going into the second half in fantasy leagues. The 22-year-old is currently rostered in 60% of Yahoo leagues, so he's still widely available.

3 days ago

Brandon Lowe • 2B • Pirates

Brandon Lowe Remains a Strong Source of Power

Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe didn't get an All-Star nod, despite being well deserving of one. The 32-year-old is coming off a strong first half with the Pirates. Through 90 games, Lowe is slashing .246/.316/.487 with 21 home runs and 64 RBI. He smacked 31 long balls last season and has a good chance of surpassing that this season. Outside of the power, Lowe isn't offering a ton of upside to fantasy managers. The veteran slugger doesn't hit for average, walk much or steal bases at a high rate. Fantasy managers looking for help in the power department should hang onto Lowe, but he could be an interesting sell-high candidate.

3 days ago

Jhostynxon Garcia • RF • Pirates

Is it Time to Stash Jhostynxon Garcia Following Triple-A Surge?

Pittsburgh Pirates outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia has had his audition this season with the Pirates at the big-league level, and it didn't go resoundingly well. That being said, he still might be a name to keep in mind for the second half of the season for fantasy purposes. In the minors this season, between High-A Bradenton and Triple-A Indianapolis, Garcia is hitting .279 with nine homers and 30 RBI to go with 38 runs scored and five stolen bases. He hit just .200 in his brief spell with Pittsburgh, but that doesn't mean he will be precluded from another shot at the big leagues. He is the No. 4 overall prospect in the Pirates' system, and at 23 years old, he should get another opportunity in Pittsburgh. Additionally, Garcia enters the midway point swinging a hot bat, posting a .333/.419/.463 line over his last 15 games. He is an impact outfielder, and while the Pirates' outfield is deep at the big league level, it would be wise to stash Garcia as a potential impact bat in the second half, especially for those in deeper 15-team leagues with several N/A spots.

4 days ago

Nick Gonzales • 3B • Pirates

Nick Gonzales Can Help With Infield Depth Off the Waiver Wire

Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman/third baseman Nick Gonzales can be a great fill-in addition off the waiver wire if you need help at multiple infield spots. He has spent most of the year at the hot corner, but has other eligibility as well in most formats. The 27-year-old has been a utility man most of his career, but has taken a nice step forward in a regular role over the past several weeks. Since June 1, Gonzales has been hitting .314 with three homers, 24 runs scored, and 17 RBI in 37 games. He has moved all over the batting order during that span, starting as the leadoff hitter and the cleanup hitter as the Pirates shuffle different combinations. He has a .364 wOBA since June 1 and just a 17.8% K%. His contact numbers and solid counting stats production are good enough to earn him a roster spot in most standard-sized leagues. He doesn't have elite power or stolen base potential, but if you need a batting average booster who can score runs and chip in countable stats, Gonzales is worth a look as long as he remains in an everyday role.

6 days ago

Mason Montgomery • RP • Pirates

Mason Montgomery Emerging as a Top Waiver-Wire Target?

Pittsburgh Pirates left-handed reliever Mason Montgomery worked around a walk to finish Saturday's 3-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 2 of a doubleheader, striking out two in a hitless ninth for his first save of the season. Gregory Soto had closed Game 1, so Pittsburgh is still splitting late work. Montgomery has put himself squarely in the picture, though. He has allowed no runs with five strikeouts and one walk over his last three appearances, and his season total is up to 55 strikeouts in 37 innings. The 4.14 ERA is not pretty, but a 34.8% strikeout rate and 3.21 xERA make the profile more interesting than the surface number. RotoBaller now lists Montgomery alongside Soto atop a volatile committee and recommends him in 12-team leagues. With only a 2% Yahoo roster rate, he is one of the better speculative saves adds available, even if calling him Pittsburgh's closer would be premature.

Jul 12

Konnor Griffin • SS • Pirates

Konnor Griffin Moved to 60-Day Injured List

The Pittsburgh Pirates transferred shortstop Konnor Griffin (finger) to the 60-day injured list on Saturday to open up roster spots for newly-acquired infielder Jacob Gonzalez and left-hander Brandon Eisert, according to Alex Stumpf of MLB.com. The Pirates placed Griffin on the 10-day IL on Tuesday with a torn tendon in his left ring finger, and he was given an eight- to 10-week timeline for a return, so he'll be out well into the second half of the season. The earliest he'll be able to return will be on Sept. 4. It's a tough break for the Bucs and for the 20-year-old rookie phenom, who was holding his own in his first 225 major-league at-bats, hitting .276/.332/.404 with a .736 OPS, five home runs, 25 RBI, 20 stolen bases, and 35 runs scored in his first MLB season in 2026. With Griffin out for the foreseeable future, Jared Triolo has been manning the 6 in Pittsburgh, but Gonzalez could see some time there as well after the Pirates acquired him from the Chicago White Sox on Friday night. Griffin is still rostered in 77% of Yahoo leagues despite his serious finger injury.

Jul 11

Edward Florentino • OF • Pirates

Edward Florentino Emerging as Top Outfield Prospect to Roster

Pittsburgh Pirates outfield prospect Edward Florentino has enjoyed an impressive power surge at the High-A level and continues to solidify himself as one of the top outfield prospects to roster in dynasty formats. Over his last 16 contests, Florentino has carried a sharp .258/.319/.606 slash line with three doubles, one triple, and six home runs. However, overh is last seven games, Florentino has been even more impressive, hitting five of these home runs with an eye-catching 1.015 OPS. Overall this season, Florentino, the No. 30-ranked prospect in baseball, has posted a .213/.335/.426 line with 12 home runs and four stolen bases. While he needed some growing pains, the 19-year-old has gradually begun to turn the corner. While a late-season Double-A debut remains in play, fantasy managers should continue to view Florentino as an elite budding dynasty asset.

Jul 11

Jacob Gonzalez • 1B • Pirates

Pirates Acquire Jacob Gonzalez From the White Sox

The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired infielder Jacob Gonzalez and left-handed reliever Brandon Eisert from the Chicago White Sox on Friday for the 34th pick in the 2026 MLB draft on Saturday and left-handed reliever Jaden Woods, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN. Gonzalez, the 15th overall pick by Chicago in 2023 out of the University of Mississippi, was considered the White Sox's No. 22 prospect before the trade. He was brought up to the big leagues for the first time when Munetaka Murakami went on the injured list with a hamstring injury, and he made his debut on the South Side on May 31. In his first 30 games at the major-league level, Gonzalez hit .244 (21-for-86) with two home runs, 17 RBI, and 11 runs scored in 97 plate appearances. The Pirates swooped in to trade for the left-handed hitter after Murakami returned from the IL on Friday. Gonzalez is now worth a look in NL-only fantasy leagues with the potential for regular playing time in Pittsburgh, with both shortstop Konnor Griffin (finger) and first baseman Spencer Horwitz (hamstring) on the shelf.

Jul 10

Esmerlyn Valdez • RF • Pirates

Esmerlyn Valdez a High-Upside Power Addition Off Waivers?

Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Esmerlyn Valdez is making a loud waiver case with impact power that is hard to ignore. The 22-year-old is hitting .293 with seven home runs, 18 RBI, 16 runs, and a .993 OPS over 82 at-bats after going deep again Thursday against the Atlanta Braves. There is no stolen-base help here, so fantasy managers should not force a five-category label onto the profile. The power, though, looks very real. Valdez owns a 91.1 mph average exit velocity, 50.0% hard-hit rate, and 28.0% barrel rate, giving the early home run pace real support. The strikeouts are the obvious drawback, so some batting-average risk comes with the upside. Claimed in exactly half of Yahoo leagues, Valdez still has enough availability to matter. RotoBaller's latest waiver rankings support him as an add in 10-team formats.

Jul 10

Thomas Harrington • SP • Pirates

Thomas Harrington Returning to Big Leagues, Worth a Waiver-Wire Pickup?

The Pittsburgh Pirates are calling up right-handed pitching prospect Thomas Harrington from Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday, sources told MLB.com's Alex Stumpf. Per MLB Pipeline, Harrington is the club's No. 12 prospect. The 24-year-old former 36th overall pick in 2022 out of Campbell University made his major-league debut with the Bucs last year and struggled in his three appearances (one start), posting a 15.58 ERA with 15 earned runs allowed, three homers surrendered, seven walks, and seven strikeouts in 8 2/3 innings pitched. The 6-foot-2, 210-pounder has also struggled at Indy this year, going 1-5 with a 6.52 ERA, 1.59 WHIP, and 56:26 K:BB in 58 innings across 20 appearances (six starts). Harrington doesn't have plus stuff on the mound, so he needs to rely on pinpoint control and keeping hitters off balance. Injuries got in the way in 2025, but he's healthy now and will look to fare better in his second taste of the big leagues. Fantasy managers in all formats can stay away for now, especially with Harrington likely filling a low-leverage relief role in his return to Pittsburgh.

Jul 10

Antwone Kelly • RP • Pirates

Pirates Calling Up Pitching Prospect Antwone Kelly, Will he Have a Starting Role?

The Pittsburgh Pirates are calling up right-handed pitching prospect Antwone Kelly from Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday, sources told Alex Stumpf of MLB.com. According to MLB Pipeline, Kelly is the Pirates' No. 7 prospect. The 22-year-old native of Aruba made one relief appearance for Pittsburgh earlier this year on June 12 against the Miami Marlins and struggled, allowing two earned runs on two hits (one homer) while walking one and striking out a batter. In 17 appearances (12 starts) for Indy, Kelly has a 4.85 ERA and 1.50 WHIP with 54 strikeouts and 33 walks in 68 2/3 innings pitched. The 5-foot-10, 238-pounder is undersized for a starter, but he makes up for it with strength and can reach triple digits with his fastball. For as hard as he throws, though, Kelly doesn't generate a ton of swing and miss, and his command hasn't been great on the farm in 2026. Now that he's back with the big-league club, Kelly will most likely pitch out of the bullpen again to give the Bucs some length heading into next week's All-Star break.

Jul 10

Jhostynxon Garcia • RF • Pirates

Jhostynxon Garcia Heating Up at Triple-A, Back on Stash Radar?

Pittsburgh Pirates outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia's bat got going over the past week, going 8-for-18 (.444) with a pair of doubles, three stolen bases, and a 5:3 BB:K in his last six games. The Pirates' fourth-ranked prospect had scuffled to a .184 average (9-for-49) over the previous 13 games, and for the season at Triple-A Indianapolis, he's slashing .244/.324/.378 with five home runs and four steals. The Venezuelan made quick work of Double and Triple-A last year on the way to a brief debut with the Red Sox, and spent two weeks with the Pirates earlier this year, but hasn't been able to do much with his opportunities in the big leagues. Perhaps this recent run of production can provide enough momentum to carry him back to the majors soon, but with poor chase, whiff, strikeout, and average exit velocities at Indy this year, there isn't much for fantasy managers to get excited about. There's no need to consider stashing the 23-year-old in most fantasy leagues except perhaps in NL-only formats.

Jul 9

Rafael Flores Jr. • C • Pirates

Pirates Call Up Prospect Rafael Flores Jr., a Worth Waiver-Wire Target?

The Pittsburgh Pirates are calling up catcher/first base prospect Rafael Flores Jr. from Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday to take the roster spot of catcher Endy Rodriguez (glute), who is going on the 10-day injured list with a left-glute strain, manager Don Kelly told Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Flores, 25, made his big-league debut last year and played in only seven games. He also was up with the Pirates' big-league squad earlier this year, but he appeared in just two games. In 22 total plate appearances in the majors, Flores has gone 5-for-18 with a homer, two RBI, two runs, four walks, and seven strikeouts. The former undrafted free agent out of Rio Hondo College will most likely just serve as catching depth behind Henry Davis to close out the first season this week, so fantasy managers in most leagues can ignore him off the waiver wire for now. In 65 games and 276 plate appearances at Indy this year, Flores has hit just .228/.362/.342 with a .704 OPS, four homers, 38 RBI, and 33 runs scored.

Jul 8

Ryan O'Hearn • RF • Pirates

Ryan O'Hearn Goes Off for Three Homers, 10 RBI in Rout of Braves

Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman/outfielder Ryan O'Hearn made Pirates history on Tuesday night in the team's 12-4 blowout win at PNC Park over the visiting Atlanta Braves. O'Hearn was locked in at the plate, going 4-for-5 with three home runs and a franchise-record 10 RBI to raise his season average to .293 and his OPS to .851. The left-handed-hitting slugger lifted a grand slam and two three-run homers to become the 17th player in the modern era with at least 10 RBI in a single game. O'Hearn was already in consideration as a waiver-wire target during his breakout campaign in 2026, and now he really is after his monstrous performance on Tuesday. He's now slashing .293/.351/.500 with 16 long balls, 61 RBI, 47 runs scored, and a stolen base in 319 plate appearances in his first season in the Steel City. O'Hearn has hit safely in eight of his last nine starts and is sizzling hot as we approach next week's All-Star break. He's rostered in only 65% of Yahoo leagues, but that number is about to rise after he went nuclear against Atlanta.

Jul 7

Spencer Horwitz • 1B • Pirates

Spencer Horwitz Begins a Running Program

Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Spencer Horwitz (hamstring) has started a running program in Florida, according to MLB.com's Alex Stumpf. Horwitz is making progress from a left-hamstring strain that has kept him sidelined for a couple of weeks, but he's getting closer to a return and could be reinstated from the 10-day injured list shortly after next week's All-Star break. He'll most likely need a short minor-league rehab assignment before returning to the big-league roster later this month. The 28-year-old former 24th-round pick by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2019 out of Radford University is in the midst of his best season in the big leagues in his second year in the Steel City in 2026, hitting .280 (69-for-246) with 10 home runs, 33 RBI, 36 runs scored, and a stolen base in 74 games across 295 plate appearances. Horwitz is three homers away from setting a new career high in the category, and he's become a waiver-wire target in deeper leagues for his left-handed power. He's only hitting 10-for-43 (.233) against left-handers, though, with one of his 10 home runs.

Jul 7

Oneil Cruz • CF • Pirates

Oneil Cruz Resumes Swinging a Bat

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Oneil Cruz (hand) has resumed swinging a bat as he works his way back from a fractured left hand, according to Alex Stumpf of MLB.com. Cruz is making good progress, but he's not expected to return from the 10-day injured list until shortly after next week's All-Star break from July 13-16. Barring a setback on what should be a short minor-league rehab assignment, Cruz should be back for fantasy managers later this month. The 27-year-old Dominican outfielder remains a high-end, five-category contributor when he's healthy, so he should be rostered in all fantasy leagues while he recovers from his hand injury. Cruz is hitting .264/.350/.472 on the year with an .822 OPS, 14 home runs, 44 RBI, 45 runs scored, and 21 stolen bases across his 250 at-bats in 2026. He's striking out at a 34.6% clip, which is concerning, but when he does make contact, it's usually hit hard. Cruz ranks in the 100th percentile in hard-hit rate, the 96th percentile in barrel rate, and the 85th percentile in expected slugging percentage.

Jul 7

Konnor Griffin • SS • Pirates

Konnor Griffin to Miss 8-10 Weeks With Finger Injury

Pittsburgh Pirates rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin (finger) is officially going on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday with a torn tendon in his left ring finger, director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk told Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Griffin will be in a splint for six weeks and is expected to be out for eight to 10 weeks. It's a tough break for the Pirates and for Griffin's fantasy managers, as he's not expected to be back until early in September. Jared Triolo will most likely handle most of the playing time at the 6 with Griffin out, with Nick Gonzales being another option in Pittsburgh's middle infield. Griffin, the top prospect in all of baseball going into the start of the 2026 campaign, has been a strong contributor for the Bucs in his first big-league season, slashing .276/.332/.404 with a .736 OPS, five home runs, 25 RBI, 20 stolen bases, and 35 runs scored in his 225 at-bats. He won't have a ton of time left to make an impact in fantasy once he returns from his finger injury, but Griffin's power/speed upside makes him worth stashing in most leagues in the meantime.

Jul 7

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