The Pirates are turning to two familiar arms to help steady a bullpen that has been leaking runs. Pittsburgh recalled pitching prospects Bubba Chandler and Mike Burrows? No-Kelly and Harrington are the names in the source, and both are headed back to the big leagues with a clear job in front of them.
Kelly already got a taste of the majors on June 12, when he made his MLB debut and covered 2 1/3 innings while giving up two runs. He was sent back to Indianapolis the next day in a corresponding move for Isaac Mattson.
Since that demotion, Kelly has worked in bulk relief, including a six-inning scoreless outing on July 3. Even with that stretch, he carries a 6.14 ERA in 14 2/3 innings since being optioned.
The right-hander brings real velocity to the mix. The 5-foot-10 Kelly works with a fastball that sits around 97 mph, and he has already touched 100-plus mph 17 times in 2026. He also represented Team Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic, where he allowed two runs in three innings.
Harrington is set for his 2026 MLB debut after appearing in three games for the Pirates a year ago. His Triple-A season has been rough: in Indianapolis, the 24-year-old owns a 6.52 ERA across 58 innings.
The timing of both promotions points straight at Pittsburgh’s bullpen issues. The group has a 4.53 ERA, which ranks fourth worst in the National League. Both pitchers are already on the 40-man roster, and the corresponding moves have not yet been announced.
In Other News...
Pirates Make Another Pitching Move With Bigger Questions Still Looming
The Pirates kept tinkering with their pitching depth by bringing Antwone Kelly and Thomas Harrington back into the major league mix, another reminder that the staff is still very much a work in progress. Kelly has already gotten a look in the big leagues this season, while Harrington is back in position to help at the top level as the organization keeps searching for more stability on the mound.
Even with those moves, the bigger picture around Pittsburghs pitching plan is still unsettled. The front office is weighing whether to make a more meaningful addition before the trade deadline, and the draft could also become part of the answer if the Pirates decide to use valuable picks as trade currency to help the rotation and bullpen now. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Just Got A Painful Reminder Of How Close They Came On Konnor Griffin
The Cardinals new commitment to rookie infielder JJ Wetherholt is a reminder of how thin the margin was in the 2024 draft, when he went seventh overall and Pittsburgh landed Konnor Griffin two picks later. St. Louis moved quickly to lock up Wetherholt on an eight-year deal that can grow with bonuses, a sign of how highly the organization still values the player it chose ahead of the Pirates.
For Pittsburgh, the timing only sharpens the draft-day what ifs. Griffin ended up in black and gold and later secured his own long-term extension, but the Cardinals had also spent time weighing him before settling on Wetherholt, leaving the Pirates with a prospect they were able to keep and develop after one of the closest calls of the draft. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates May Have A Surprising Option At Fifth Overall
With the 2026 MLB Draft still months away, the Pirates are already being tied to a few different directions at No. 5 overall. Most mock drafts have Pittsburgh leaning toward UCSB right-hander Jackson Flora, but the early conversation is broader than one arm, with Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey and Mississippi prep outfielder Eric Booth Jr. also drawing attention as the draft picture starts to take shape.
For a club trying to balance immediate upside with long-term development, the fifth pick could come down to what kind of player the front office wants to bet on. Flora fits the profile of a polished college pitcher, while Booth offers the sort of younger, higher-risk ceiling that can appeal in the top half of the first round. The Pirates still have time before July 11-12, but the range of names already in play suggests this pick may not be as straightforward as it first looked. [Read more 🡒]