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Pirates position player prospects who could make a significant impact in 2025

The Pirates have some position players in the minor leagues who could make an impact on the 2025 team.

ByNoah Wright|
Mar 7, 2021; North Port, Florida, USA; Boston Red Sox designated hitter Nick York (80) scores off a Yairo Munoz single in the top of the sixth inning during spring training at CoolToday Park. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2021; North Port, Florida, USA; Boston Red Sox designated hitter Nick York (80) scores off a Yairo Munoz single in the top of the sixth inning during spring training at CoolToday Park. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports | Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
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Jack Brannigan

The Pirates took Jack Brannigan in the third round of the 2023 draft as a two-way player. While Brannigan has not pitched as a pro, he’s definitely looked good with the bat and glove. Last year, he had a .915 OPS, .415 wOBA, and 146 wRC+ between Bradenton and Greensboro, and he’s continued to hit well this season.

Brannigan is still at Greensboro and is batting .227/.338/.464 on the season. Power is Brannigan’s strong suit, and he has a .237 isolated slugging percentage and 17 home runs this season. Brannigan is walking at a healthy 12.2% rate, but he’s cut his strikeout rate down significantly from last season. When Brannigan got promoted to Greensboro last year, he struck out about a third of the time with a 33.5% K%. This year, however, he has cut that down to 26.1%.

Brannigan has definitely ran into some bad luck. Last year, Brannigan had a .363 batting average on balls in play while posting a 25% line drive rate, 31.1% ground ball rate, and 43.9% flyball rate. This year, he has a .260 BABIP with a 23.2% line drive rate, 26.8% ground ball rate, and 50% flyball rate. Although his 2023 BABIP may have been unsustainable, .260 is also unsustainable in the other direction.

Brannigan is an above-average runner and swiped 24 bases last year. He already has a dozen stolen bases this season. He projects as a plus defensive infielder. The Pirates originally drafted him as a 3B/RHP, but he’s shown enough athleticism and defensive prowess to play the middle infield. He has spent more time at shortstop than third base this season. Brannigan was firing upper-90s fastballs as a pitcher, so he has more than enough arm strength to play on the left side of the infield.

Brannigan turns 24 next March and could make his Double-A debut before the end of the season, wielding a lot of offensive upside. His hit tool might end up on the fringe, but his power will make up for it. Brannigan is a potential 20-home run threat with good fielding at multiple infield positions. He’s a potential middle-of-the-order bat for the Bucs sometime next season.

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