Pirates acquire Keiner Delgado as PTBNL for J.T. Brubaker

The Pirates and Yankees have finalized their March 29 trade that sent right-handed pitcher J.T. Brubaker to New York for a player to be named later. To complete the deal, the Pirates received infield prospect Keiner Delgado.

Delgado, who turned 20 in January, has appeared in 102 career minor league games, slashing .301/.459/.495 with 44 extra-base hits, including 11 home runs. He's been a force to be reckoned with both at the plate (19.7 percent walk rate versus a 12.3 percent strikeout rate) and on the bases (70 stolen bases).

The Venezuelan prospect spent the 2023 season in the Florida Complex League, where he compiled an .899 OPS in 49 games. He ranked second in the league in hits and total bases while finishing with 13 more runs scored and 12 more stolen bases than any other player. He has yet to make his 2024 debut.

Despite his robust stolen bases numbers, no prospect outlet grades Delgado's run tool any higher than a 60, and MLB Pipeline notes that those totals are "more the result of his instincts than his average speed." His best tool is likely his keen eye and plate discipline, and despite his impressive offensive production to this point, the switch-hitter will likely need to fill out physically (he's currently listed at just 145 pounds) to continue that type of production at higher levels.

An average defender, Delgado profiles best as a second baseman long-term. He primarily played shortstop in 2022 and second base in 2023, while also mixing in three games at third base.

Delgado slotted in at #24 on MLB Pipeline's Pirates top 30 list after his trade to Pittsburgh was official. The Athletic's Keith Law ranked Delgado as the Yankees' seventh-best prospect entering the 2024 season. Our Noah Wright tabbed Delgado as an interesting potential return for Brubaker weeks before the deal was finalized.