DYNASTY BASEBALL: 2026 Pittsburgh Pirates Top 20 Fantasy Baseball Prospects

The Pittsburgh Pirates are reaching an important stage in their organizational build under General Manager Ben Cherington. For years, Pittsburgh’s path forward has depended on acquiring and developing young talent, but the system is beginning to look less like a collection of future pieces and more like a pipeline capable of supplying the major-league roster with impact players.

DYNASTY BASEBALL: 2026 Pittsburgh Pirates Top 20 Fantasy Baseball Prospects

That starts with pitching, where the Pirates have established one of baseball’s most impressive collections of young arms. The organization has invested heavily in identifying pitchers with premium traits and creating a development infrastructure capable of turning raw stuff into major-league weapons. But the more significant development may be what is happening on the position-player side. Pittsburgh is beginning to assemble greater offensive depth throughout the system, giving the organization a more balanced talent base than it has had in recent years, as you’ll see in the Pirates’ top 20 fantasy baseball prospects below.

The results are becoming difficult to ignore. MLB Pipeline ranked Pittsburgh’s farm system No. 3 in baseball entering the 2026 season, a dramatic climb from No. 20 at midseason 2024. Even after several prominent prospects graduated to the majors during 2026, the system has continued to replenish itself through the draft, international scouting, development, and trades.

That progression reflects the philosophy Cherington has attempted to establish since taking over baseball operations. His approach has centered on identifying, acquiring, developing, and ultimately deploying talent, with particular emphasis on individualized player development rather than forcing every prospect through the same model. For a smaller-market organization like Pittsburgh, consistently producing major-league players internally isn’t simply advantageous—it is essential for sustained contention.

For dynasty fantasy managers, that makes the Pirates increasingly important to follow.

Pittsburgh prospects should no longer be viewed solely through the lens of opportunity on a rebuilding club. There is legitimate talent accumulating throughout the organization, and the development of that talent is beginning to create competition for future major-league roles. The emergence of hitters alongside an already formidable pitching pipeline could be especially significant, as organizational officials have pointed to improved position-player depth throughout the minor leagues.

The dynasty opportunity lies in identifying which players are positioned to make the next developmental jump before the broader market recognizes them. High-upside pitchers will naturally command attention, but athletic position players with power, speed, improving plate discipline, and defensive versatility deserve equal consideration as Pittsburgh’s offensive pipeline strengthens.

Cherington and his staff have spent years trying to construct a sustainable foundation in Pittsburgh. The next phase is the most important one: converting that organizational depth into consistent major-league production. If the Pirates can accomplish that, this could become one of the more valuable organizations in baseball for dynasty managers searching for young players before their value reaches the national radar.

So, let’s begin with our countdown of the Pirates’ top 20 prospects.

#20 — Edgleen Perez | C (ETA 2028)

Pittsburgh acquired Edgleen Perez from the Yankees in the 2025 David Bednar trade, adding an advanced young defensive catcher whose plate discipline has consistently stood out. He controls the strike zone unusually well for his age and makes enough contact to give his bat a foundation.

The fantasy question is impact. Perez produces plenty of ground balls and hasn’t yet developed the loft or game power necessary to become an exciting standard-league catcher, although his improving exit velocities leave room for growth.

In deeper dynasty formats, the combination of youth, contact skills, and a strong defensive profile makes him worth monitoring because the glove should buy his bat developmental time.

#19 — Reinold Navarro | LHP (ETA 2029)

The Pirates landed Reinold Navarro as a $270,000 international signing out of the Dominican Republic in 2024, and the young lefty has quickly become one of the more intriguing pitching projects in the organization. His combination of youth, physicality, and strikeout ability provides legitimate upside.

Navarro can miss bats, but his ultimate role will depend heavily on the development of his command and secondary pitches. There is enough raw stuff here to dream on a starter, though the bullpen remains a realistic outcome.

Pitching prospects this far from Pittsburgh carry considerable volatility, so Navarro is more of a stash in leagues with large farm systems. If the control takes a meaningful step forward, his dynasty stock could rise rapidly.

#18 — Andruw Giles | OF (ETA 2030)

Pittsburgh selected Andruw Giles out of Basic High School in Nevada with the 108th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2026 draft, signing him away from an Oregon commitment. The left-handed hitter brings an appealing combination of barrel skills and more raw power than his compact frame might suggest.

Giles isn’t simply a future slugger hunting home runs; his swing is short enough to spray line drives around the field. Continued physical development could eventually allow him to access considerably more of his raw power without sacrificing his natural hitting ability.

That creates a fun dynasty profile because there are multiple avenues toward fantasy relevance, but he’s still an extremely young hitter with a long developmental road. Giles belongs on the radar in deeper first-year-player drafts.

#17 — Ryan Marohn | LHP (ETA 2029)

The Pirates selected Ryan Marohn from NC State in the fifth round of the 2026 draft, betting on one of the more polished command-oriented left-handers in the class. Injuries limited his draft season, but his ability to locate multiple pitches gives him a strong pitching foundation.

Marohn isn’t built around one overwhelming offering. Instead, he changes speeds, moves the baseball around the zone, and uses a repeatable delivery to make the entire arsenal play together, creating a potential back-end starter package.

For dynasty managers, the ceiling isn’t enormous, but polished starters who can advance quickly have value in deeper formats. Health is the major variable after his arm issues during his draft year.

#16 — Easton Carmichael | C (ETA 2028)

Pittsburgh used its third-round pick in the 2025 draft on Oklahoma catcher Easton Carmichael, who broke out offensively during his final college season. Carmichael offers a compact right-handed swing, improving power and better athleticism than the typical catching prospect.

There’s no singular carrying tool, but that’s also part of the attraction. Carmichael can make contact, drive mistakes to his pull side, and contribute enough defensively to have a legitimate chance of remaining behind the plate.

A catcher capable of eventually producing 15-20 homers with a respectable average would carry useful dynasty value, and his 2026 offensive progress has strengthened that possibility. He is particularly interesting in two-catcher formats.

#15 — Duce Gourson | 2B/3B (ETA 2027)

The Pirates grabbed Duce Gourson from UCLA in the ninth round of the 2024 draft, and the former Bruins infielder has developed into considerably more than ordinary late-round depth. His left-handed bat, mature approach, and ability to work counts have pushed him rapidly through the system.

Gourson’s fantasy profile is built more around offensive competency than explosive tools. He can reach base, make enough quality contact, and provide some pop while moving around the infield, giving Pittsburgh several ways to get him into a lineup.

The ceiling may be that of a solid regular rather than a fantasy star, but proximity matters in dynasty leagues. With Triple-A already on his résumé, Gourson could soon turn into a useful NL-only or deep-league asset.

#14 — Levi Sterling | RHP (ETA 2029)

Pittsburgh invested heavily in Levi Sterling after selecting the California prep right-hander 37th overall in the 2024 draft, signing him for roughly $2.5 million. His projectable 6-foot-5 frame and advanced feel for pitching made him one of the more intriguing teenage arms in that class.

Sterling is more than a pure velocity lottery ticket. He shows the ingredients for a broad starter’s arsenal and has time to add strength, potentially giving him both additional velocity and greater durability as he matures.

Young pitching is inherently dangerous in dynasty, and Sterling remains several years away. Still, the combination of age, starter traits, and physical projection gives him a higher fantasy ceiling than many arms at the lower levels.

#13 — Darell Morel | SS (ETA 2031)

The Pirates made Darell Morel one of their major 2025 international investments, signing the Dominican infielder for $1.8 million. At roughly 6-foot-4, he brings unusual size and physical projection for a player who entered professional baseball as a shortstop.

Morel’s left-handed bat is the fantasy attraction. There’s substantial room for future strength and power, although his long-term position and ability to consistently control the strike zone against advanced pitching remain developmental questions.

He’s exactly the type of prospect who can make an enormous dynasty jump before reaching the upper minors. Managers in leagues with 200-plus prospects rostered should be willing to embrace the risk for that offensive ceiling.

#12 — Khristian Curtis | RHP (ETA 2027)

The Pirates selected Khristian Curtis from Arizona State in the 12th round of the 2023 draft, and he has since transformed himself into a legitimate pitching prospect. His imposing 6-foot-5 frame and improving arsenal have carried him all the way to Triple-A.

Curtis offers the strikeout potential fantasy managers want, but command remains central to whether he starts in Pittsburgh or eventually shifts toward relief. When he’s attacking the zone, his stuff can be extremely difficult for hitters to square.

He’s much closer to the majors than most pitchers on this list, which reduces some dynasty uncertainty. Curtis could provide useful strikeouts as a starter, while his stuff gives him a fallback path to a leverage-relief role.

#11 — Jhostynxon Garcia | OF (ETA 2026)

Pittsburgh acquired Jhostynxon Garcia from Boston in December 2025 alongside Jesus Travieso for Johan Oviedo, Tyler Samaniego and Adonys Guzman. Garcia arrived as a near-major-league-ready power-hitting outfielder and has already appeared for the Pirates.

Garcia’s appeal begins with strength and impact. He can punish the baseball and has enough athleticism to handle the outfield, but his aggressive offensive tendencies create batting-average and on-base risk when major-league pitchers exploit his approach.

Unlike most prospects here, dynasty managers don’t need to wait years to discover what they have. The upside is an everyday outfielder capable of supplying useful home-run totals, though the hit tool could make the ride volatile.

#10 — Hunter Barco | LHP (ETA 2026)

The Pirates selected Hunter Barco from Florida with the 44th overall pick in the second round of the 2022 draft, knowing his professional debut would be delayed by Tommy John surgery. The patience has paid off, as the big left-hander developed into one of Pittsburgh’s most advanced pitching prospects.

Barco creates uncomfortable at-bats with his size, angle, and deceptive delivery, while his slider gives him a legitimate bat-missing weapon. The biggest fantasy question is whether his arsenal allows him to consistently turn lineups over as a starter.

He’s essentially major-league ready, making Barco far safer than Pittsburgh’s teenage arms. Even without a frontline ceiling, a left-handed starter capable of producing strikeouts behind Paul Skenes and company has clear dynasty usefulness.

#9 — Chris Rembert | 2B (ETA 2028)

Pittsburgh selected Chris Rembert from Auburn with the 51st overall pick in the 2026 draft, giving the organization one of the class’s more accomplished pure hitters. His strong frame generates hard contact without requiring an overly complicated swing.

Rembert’s direct path to the baseball produces line drives and gives him a chance to hit for average, while enough strength exists for his power output to grow. The offensive ceiling rises substantially if he begins lifting more of that hard contact.

College hitters with this combination of barrel ability and physicality are attractive dynasty bets because they can move quickly. Rembert isn’t far removed from the top tier of Pittsburgh’s position-player prospects and could climb aggressively in 2027.

#8 — Johan De Los Santos | SS (ETA 2031)

The Pirates made Johan De Los Santos the centerpiece of their 2025 international class, signing the Dominican teenager for $2.25 million. He’s one of the youngest players on this countdown and consequently presents one of its biggest combinations of upside and risk.

De Los Santos offers the ingredients dynasty managers should chase at the lowest levels: athleticism, a left-handed bat, projection and the possibility of developing across several offensive categories. His present game is understandably raw, and significant physical development remains ahead.

This is a long-term investment rather than a prospect likely to help soon. If the bat develops alongside his body, however, De Los Santos has the upside to become one of the system’s biggest dynasty risers.

#7 — Aiden Ruiz | SS (ETA 2031)

Pittsburgh selected Aiden Ruiz 44th overall in the second round of the 2026 draft, signing the Stony Brook School standout away from Vanderbilt for $3.5 million. Ruiz was viewed as one of the premier defensive shortstops in his prep class and also brings impressive bat-to-ball ability from both sides.

The offensive game currently leans more toward contact and athleticism than power. Ruiz rarely gives away at-bats with empty swings, and his speed adds another fantasy avenue, but he’ll need to become stronger to develop meaningful home-run production.

The glove gives him an unusually high probability of staying at shortstop, which should provide plenty of opportunities for the bat to mature. In dynasty, he’s an attractive upside play for managers prioritizing average, runs, and steals over immediate power.

#6 — Wyatt Sanford | SS (ETA 2029)

The Pirates selected Wyatt Sanford 47th overall in the 2024 draft out of Independence High School in Texas, using an above-slot $2.5 million bonus to steer him away from Texas A&M. His athleticism and smooth left-handed swing immediately made him one of the organization’s more interesting young infielders.

Sanford’s game offers fantasy balance rather than one extreme carrying tool. He can make contact, run, defend shortstop, and potentially grow into more power as his lean frame matures, giving him a chance to contribute across several roto categories.

There’s still considerable developmental risk, but a young shortstop with this collection of skills is precisely the archetype worth rostering before the breakout becomes obvious. Sanford could eventually offer a valuable power-speed blend from the middle infield.

#5 — Axiel Plaz | C/1B (ETA 2028)

The Pirates signed Axiel Plaz out of Venezuela for $350,000 during the 2022 international period, and his offensive development has dramatically outpaced that modest bonus. The stocky right-handed hitter has turned himself into one of Pittsburgh’s most dangerous young power bats.

Plaz combines serious strength with enough feel for contact to make the power especially intriguing. His defensive home is less certain, and a future move away from catcher would raise the offensive bar, but the bat has increasingly become the reason to roster him.

Catcher eligibility would make this profile particularly valuable in dynasty because impact offense at the position is difficult to find. Even at first base, Plaz has enough offensive upside to remain relevant if the power continues translating against better pitching.

#4 — Murf Gray | 3B (ETA 2028)

Pittsburgh selected Murf Gray from Fresno State with the 73rd overall pick in the 2025 draft, targeting a physical right-handed hitter whose college track record hinted at considerable offensive upside. He has since moved quickly, already reaching Double-A.

Gray’s calling card is impact. At roughly 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds, he can drive the baseball with authority and projects for substantial home-run production, while enough hitting ability exists to prevent him from becoming merely an all-or-nothing slugger.

Third base is an excellent fantasy landing spot if he can remain there, though his bat should carry the profile even if he eventually slides across the diamond. Gray has legitimate middle-of-the-order upside and is one of Pittsburgh’s fastest-rising dynasty assets.

#3 — Derek Curiel | OF (ETA 2028)

The Pirates selected Derek Curiel fifth overall out of LSU in the 2026 draft, making the polished center fielder their latest premium amateur investment. Curiel arrived with one of the best hit tools in the class after batting .349 across two seasons in Baton Rouge.

His left-handed swing is balanced, direct, and geared toward spraying line drives across the field, while his speed gives him another path to fantasy production. Power is the obvious question; he presently projects more as a table-setter than a 25-homer centerpiece.

Curiel’s advanced approach and college pedigree give him a relatively high floor, but dynasty managers should not mistake floor for limited upside. A high-average hitter producing runs and steals from the top of a lineup can become extremely valuable even with modest power.

#2 — Edward Florentino | OF (ETA 2029)

Pittsburgh found a potential gem when it signed Edward Florentino out of the Dominican Republic for $395,000 in January 2024. The projectable left-handed hitter has rapidly developed into one of the best offensive prospects in the organization, reaching High-A before his 20th birthday.

Florentino’s 6-foot-4 frame creates exciting power projection, but what separates him from a typical young slugger is the possibility of pairing that strength with legitimate hitting ability. His combination of patience, leverage, and hard contact gives him a chance to become an impact offensive player.

For dynasty purposes, Florentino offers the ceiling worth betting aggressively on even though he’s still several levels from Pittsburgh. If the hit tool holds as the power matures, he has a realistic path toward becoming a high-OBP, 25-plus-homer fantasy cornerstone.

#1 — Seth Hernandez | RHP (ETA 2028)

The Pirates selected Seth Hernandez sixth overall out of Corona High School in the 2025 draft and signed him for $7.25 million, securing one of the most talented prep pitchers in recent memory. The 6-foot-4 right-hander combines premium velocity with advanced secondary weapons and unusual polish for his age.

Hernandez has the arsenal to dominate rather than merely survive as a starter. His fastball can overwhelm hitters, while his changeup and breaking stuff give him multiple swing-and-miss options; continued command development could eventually produce a true frontline major-league starter.

Pitchers always carry greater dynasty risk than comparable hitters, but Hernandez possesses the kind of strikeout ceiling that justifies the gamble. He’s a potential fantasy SP1 who could eventually join Pittsburgh’s ridiculous collection of high-end pitching, making him my clear No. 1 dynasty prospect from this group.

Final Thoughts

Pittsburgh’s system now looks like one of the more compelling dynasty pipelines in baseball, with elite pitching upside increasingly complemented by legitimate offensive depth. The organization offers a useful mix of near-term contributors, high-ceiling teenagers, and several hitters capable of significant dynasty-value jumps.

Seth Hernandez provides the headline upside as a potential fantasy SP1, while Edward Florentino, Derek Curiel, and Murf Gray give the system multiple paths to impact offense.

For dynasty managers, the biggest takeaway is simple: this is no longer a Pirates system to follow only for pitching. The growing collection of young hitters makes Pittsburgh an organization worth mining aggressively for breakout value before the broader fantasy market catches up.