Pittsburgh Pirates star prospect quickly on the rise

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May 11, 2026 - 16:58

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Pittsburgh Pirates star prospect quickly on the rise

The MLB regular season is in full swing as teams reach the seven-week mark of the campaign. Meanwhile, the minor leagues continue to showcase the next wave of major league talent.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have opened the season on a strong note. They sit three games above .500 and trail the NL Central lead by only five games early in the year.

What may excite Pirates fans even more is the organization’s growing pipeline of talent. Among the rising stars in the system is Seth Hernandez, who is quickly climbing the minor league ranks.

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The Pirates’ 2025 first-round pick made his minor league debut in Bradenton, where he started six games. His dominant performance not only earned him a 3-0 record, but also led to reports that he was set for a significant promotion.

Jul 22, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Seth Hernandez (left) the Pittsburgh Pirates first round and number six overall pick in the 2025 first year player draft looks at the glove of Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes (30) before the game against the Detroit Tigers at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

According to reports, Hernandez was promoted to High-A Greensboro on Monday. Less than a full season into his professional career, the move marks another encouraging step for the young Pirates prospect.

Hernandez now headlines a Pirates farm system loaded with pitching talent. Entering 2026, he ranked just behind Konnor Griffin in MLB’s official prospect rankings for the organization.

Griffin made his major league debut this season, leaving Hernandez as the Pirates’ top prospect. He also joins fellow pitching prospects Hunter Barco and Antwone Kelly in the organization’s top 10. Both Barco and Kelly are currently pitching for Triple-A Indianapolis.

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In six appearances with Bradenton, Hernandez logged 28 innings while allowing just 13 hits and three earned runs. He struck out 50 batters and posted a 0.96 ERA during his dominant stretch.

Jul 22, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Seth Hernandez (left) the Pittsburgh Pirates first round and number six overall pick in the 2025 first year player draft greets Pirates general manger Ben Cherington (right) before the game against the Detroit Tigers at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

The Pirates selected Hernandez with the sixth overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. He entered professional baseball as a highly regarded prospect out of Corona High School and originally committed to Vanderbilt’s baseball program.

However, Hernandez ultimately turned down Vanderbilt and signed with Pittsburgh instead.Now, he is emerging as one of baseball’s hottest young prospects and could eventually join Paul Skenes and Mitch Keller in the Pirates’ starting rotation.