Rum Bunter's top 10 Pittsburgh Pirates prospects: Where does Konnor Griffin debut?

Number Eight: Hunter Barco

The Pirates took Hunter Barco in the second round of the 2022 draft, knowing he wouldn't be ready right away. He had undergone Tommy John surgery in his final year at the University of Florida. He wouldn't return until the second half of 2023, but his workload was very limited. He only pitched 18.1 innings in nine appearances. It was a promising small sample size, however, as Barco had a 3.44 ERA, 1.79 FIP, and 1.25 WHIP at the end of the 2023 campaign.

2024 has been Barco's first extended look at the professional level, and so far, it's been very good. Barco has logged 66 innings between Greensboro and Altoona, working to the tune of a 3.27 ERA, 3.36 FIP, and 1.06 WHIP. Opponents have managed a meager .202 batting average against him and a 0.68 HR/9 rate. The southpaw has struck out over 30% of his opponents, carrying a 31.2% K% with a respectable 8.3% walk rate.

Barco's strong season at Greensboro earned him a bump to Altoona in July. Although he landed on the IL in his second start, he was looking good, pitching four innings, allowing just a single earned run, and striking out six batters (against no free passes) in his first two games.

Although Barco isn't a flamethrower, he sits 92-94 MPH from a low arm slot with his sinker. Along with a two-seamer, he'll also throw a four-seamer. His slider is his best pitch, an offering that sits in the low 80s. His offspeed pitch is a changeup that also has above-average potential. Barco can also locate his variety of pitches well. Plus, his crossfire delivery adds some deceptiveness.

Barco is already 23, and now that he's at Double-A, he has a real shot of being a major contributor to the 2025 club, assuming he isn't traded in the offseason. He has come back strong from Tommy John surgery in 2022, and he's looking like one of the Pirates' many potential rotation options for the long term.