Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects Who Have Rebounded in 2023

The Pittsburgh Pirates have seen these prospects rebound after missing a good chunk of the 2022 campaign

The Pittsburgh Pirates have plenty of prospects who have broken out this year. But the team has also had a handful of prospects who have come back after missing a good chunk of time in 2022, or even before that. You can’t talk about Pirates prospects who have come back strong without mentioning former second-round pick Braxton Ashcraft.

Ashcraft barely pitched from 2020 through 2022. The right-hander had worked in all of 38.2 innings between the three seasons. First, there was COVID, which wiped out all of 2020, then his 2021 season ended before it really even started after he underwent Tommy John surgery. That surgery also kept him out for the entirety of 2022. But despite tossing less than 50 innings between the three seasons, Ashcraft has been nothing short of outstanding since his return.

Through 52.2 innings, Ashcraft owns a 2.39 ERA, 2.85 FIP, and 1.08 WHIP. Ashcraft has been a strikeout machine, making 29.8% of opponents go down on strike three. Not only has he struck out a ton of batters, but they’re not drawing walks against him either. He has just a 5.2% walk rate, another outstanding mark on his comeback tour. Right now, there is a total of 1194 pitchers with 50 IP in the minor leagues. Ashcraft’s 5.73 K:BB ratio is the 11th best. He’s also been great at limiting home runs with a 0.68 HR/9.