Pirates Prospect Update: Jack Brannigan promotion, Seth Hernandez milestone, Murf Gray

Jack Brannigan is moving one step closer to Pittsburgh (hopefully for real this time).

The Pirates promoted the 25-year-old infielder from Double-A Altoona to Triple-A Indianapolis, giving one of their more versatile upper-level prospects a chance to prove himself against more advanced pitching. Brannigan, ranked as Pittsburgh’s No. 22 prospect by MLB Pipeline, hit .226 with eight home runs and 18 RBI in 33 games with Altoona before earning the bump to Indianapolis.

Brannigan has already briefly tasted the big leagues in a technical sense, as he was called up earlier this season when Spencer Horwitz landed on the injured list. However, he never appeared in a game and was sent back to Altoona just one day later. Because he was added to the 40-man roster in November, Brannigan remains firmly on the Pirates’ depth radar. If he can bring his power and defensive versatility to Triple-A, his next call-up could come with a real opportunity attached.

Pirates' Seth Hernandez becomes first minor league pitcher to 100 K's

Seth Hernandez will represent the Pirates at the 2026 MLB All-Star Futures Game, and he is wasting little time proving why Pittsburgh made him the sixth overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft.

The 20-year-old right-hander dominated Single-A Bradenton through six starts to earn a promotion to High-A Greensboro, and after a brief adjustment period, he appears to be settling in quickly. Hernandez has allowed just one earned run over his last two starts, striking out 15 batters against four walks across 11 innings.

Through 14 starts in his first professional season, Hernandez owns a 6-1 record, a 2.02 ERA and 100 strikeouts, becoming the first pitcher in Minor League Baseball to reach the century mark this year. His 36.0% strikeout rate at High-A shows the swing-and-miss stuff is already translating, though his 15.1% walk rate remains worth monitoring. He won't be debuting in Pittsburgh this season, but Hernandez has the look of a fast-rising arm.

Slugging prospect Murf Gray turning heads after promotion to High-A Greensboro

Murf Gray is quickly turning into one of the more intriguing power bats in the Pirates’ system. The Pirates’ No. 17 prospect per MLB Pipeline, has put together a loud first full professional season so far, batting .343 with a 1.047 OPS and 18 home runs across 64 games between Single-A Bradenton and High-A Greensboro.

The 2025 Competitive Balance Round B pick out of Fresno State always had big raw power, but the key development has been his improved approach. Gray entered pro ball with some chase concerns, but he has worked with the Pirates to better define his zone and become aggressive only in the areas where he can do damage.

That adjustment has helped his power translate quickly. At 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds, Gray already has the physical profile of a middle-of-the-order slugger, and his rapid promotion to Greensboro reflects how quickly he has adapted. He is still early in his climb, but Gray’s bat is becoming difficult to ignore.

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