3 hitting prospects that should be on the Pirates' radar by the trade deadline

With the Pirates widely expected to be sellers at the trade deadline, they should be starting to look at what prospects they would want to acquire.

The Pirates are likely to be trading away a few pitchers to contending teams this season, and should be able to return some solid prospects from those deals.

It is no secret that the Pirates need to do whatever they can to acquire some meaningful hitting prospects to revamp their organization. Outside of Konnor Griffin and Termarr Johnson, the Pirates don't have any hitting prospects that look to make an impact anytime soon. It's time to change that.

3 hitting prospects the Pirates should target at the trade deadline

Aroon Escobar, 2B/3B, Phillies Single-A

The Phillies are a very good ball club who have struggled in the bullpen this season. The Pirates have arms like Dennis Santana, Ryan Borucki, David Bednar and others who could be on the move at the deadline, making the Phillies a likely dance partner.

Escobar is the Phillies' No. 13 prospect and is off to a stellar 2025 campaign. The Venezuelan infielder is hitting .328 with eight home runs this season. In 33 games, the Phillies prospect has an OPS in excess of 1.000.

Escobar is just 20 years old and is still a ways away from reaching the big leagues. MLB.com has his ETA at 2028, making him a likely trade candidate for the right price. He is surging right now and has a chance to be one of the better Pirates prospects if that trade is made.

Jonathon Long, 1B/OF/3B, Cubs Triple-A

The Chicago Cubs have had one of the best hitting lineups in baseball this season, but their struggles on the mound are what continue to hurt them. The Cubs could use one of the Pirates' relievers or even Mitch Keller if the Pirates decide to trade him.

Regardless of who the Pirates trade away, Jonathon Long should be one of the prospects the Pirates target from the Cubs' farm system. Long is the Cubs' No. 13 prospect and is tearing up Triple-A this season. He has a .367 average and a .962 OPS in 40 games this season with the Iowa Cubs.

Long's versatility in the field is another positive for the Pirates, who are looking to get bats on the field however they can. The Cubs prospect is farther along than others we will talk about on this list, as he is 23 years old and projected to make his big league debut next season.

Long has just four home runs this season in Triple-A, but if he can add a little bit of power to his impressive contact hitting, he should be a definite target for the Pirates front office before he climbs too high up the prospect rankings.

Jonny Farmelo, OF, Mariners High-A

Admittedly, this one is slightly more of a long shot, but Jonny Farmelo could be the lead prospect in a trade package from Seattle. The Mariners are known to overpay prospects when they really want a player, so this could be a chance for the Pirates to take advantage.

Farmelo is the Mariners' No. 6 prospect and No. 82 prospect in baseball, according to MLB.com's rankings. These rankings alone will make it difficult for the Pirates to obtain him, but not impossible. The outfielder isn't projected to make the big leagues until 2028.

Farmelo is coming off a torn ACL, but looks better than ever in his first 11 games this season. The 20-year-old is hitting .292 with a .977 OPS and four home runs in a very small sample size of 11 games. He has a bit of a strikeout problem, with 15 already, but he is young and will improve there.

As previously stated, this one is more of a longshot for the Bucs, but Farmelo has loads of potential and isn't ranked high enough yet where he would be unattainable for the Pirates.