3 underrated Pirates prospects who could make surprise MLB debuts in 2025

Alessandro Ercolani

Alessandro Ercolani hails from the small country of San Marino. After another solid campaign at High-A at just 19, Ercolani may start getting some prospect attention. Baseball America ranked him as a top 25 prospect in the Pirates’ system per their 2025 Prospect Handbook (purchase required). He deserves a top-25 spot after the season he had in 2024. 

Ercolani pitched 76.2 innings at High-A Greensboro, working to a strong 3.29 ERA, 3.50 FIP, and 1.08 WHIP. Batters hit just barely above the Mendoza Line at .202 against him and struck out nearly a third of the time, sporting a collective 29.7% K%. Ercolai was not prone to free passes or home runs, either. He had an 8% BB% and only allowed home runs at an 0.94-per-9 rate.

Believe it or not, these numbers are actually inflated from just one game. In his eighth outing of the season, Ercolani allowed nine earned runs on eight hits, including two home runs, and three walks in just 2.1 frames. With this one game excluded, he sported a 2.54 ERA. His already strong strikeout rate goes up even higher to 31%, while his walk rate drops to just 7.5%, and his HR/9 comes in at 0.73 if this outlier is removed. Ercolani didn't allow more than two earned runs or three hits in any game after this chaotic event.

Ercolani sits around 93-95 MPH with his four-seam fastball. He also throws two breaking pitches. Of the two, his cutter is the better offering, but his slider also projects as a solid weapon. His primary offspeed pitch is a changeup but is considered below average. Ercolani improved his command and control. He walked over 10% of opponents he faced in 2023 at A-Ball Bradenton. Ercolani worked as both a starter and reliever, making nine starts in 24 total games, but he pitched less than two innings just once. Even when he was used out of the pen, he was used in a multi-inning role.

Ercolani is the boldest choice to potentially make his MLB debut in 2025. After all, he will open the season at just 20 years old (turns 21 in late April). The young right-hander will open 2025 at Double-A Altoona. If Ercolani pitches anything like he did outside of his one clunker outing, then it may be possible he gets a late-season promotion.