The Pirates may have something special brewing behind the plate, and Axiel Plaz just spent the year making that case louder.
Plaz turned in his best season yet at High-A Greensboro, and the bat was the story. He closed the regular season by winning South Atlantic League Player of the Week honors against Ashville (Houston Astros), going .563/.667/1.250 with an OPS of 1.917. Over four games, he piled up nine hits in 16 at-bats, seven runs, two doubles, three home runs, eight RBI and five walks against three strikeouts.
That surge capped a season that put him squarely among the league’s top hitters. In 94 games, Plaz hit .305/.389/.513 with an OPS of .902, collecting 109 hits, 56 runs, 20 doubles, 18 home runs, 74 RBI and 39 walks against 71 strikeouts.
Among South Atlantic League hitters, he finished second in batting average, third in OPS, fifth in slugging percentage and ninth in on-base percentage. He also ranked sixth in hits, ninth in total bases with 183, tied for 15th in doubles and tied for 18th in home runs.
Just as important, Plaz stayed on the field. After being limited to 66 games in 2024, he played a career-high 94 this season and only had one trip to the injured list, missing 12 games from May 27 to June 9.
May was his best month. He hit .318/.384/.621 with an OPS of 1.005, picking up 21 hits in 66 at-bats, along with five doubles, five home runs and 11 RBI.
The jump stands out even more when you look back at where he was. Plaz hit .207/.302/.438 with an OPS of .740 in 76 games with Single-A Bradenton in 2024, then followed that with a .262/.348/.450 line and .798 OPS in 55 games with Bradenton in 2025.
He also struggled in a short Greensboro look last season, hitting .086/.214/.200 with an OPS of .414 in 11 games. This year was a different story.
And it wasn’t just the home numbers doing the heavy lifting. At First National Bank Field, Greensboro’s hitter-friendly home park, Plaz hit .301/.365/.545 with an OPS of .911. On the road, he was nearly just as good, posting a .309/.411/.481 line with an OPS of .892 in 47 games.
He still has playoff games left with Greensboro, which is set to face Frederick in the South Atlantic League playoffs, giving him a chance to keep the momentum going a little longer.
The Pirates do have other catcher prospects in the mix, including Easton Carmichael at Double-A Altoona and Edgleen Perez at Bradenton, so Plaz is not operating in a vacuum. But he stands out as the biggest power bat of the group, and there’s also the possibility that he winds up at first base or as a designated hitter if catching doesn’t end up being his long-term home.
Plaz is Rule 5 Draft eligible this offseason, though it’s unlikely he gets picked. The more likely path has him opening 2027 in Double-A.
He’s still only 21, turning that age on Aug. 12, which leaves the Pirates time to keep shaping him into the right-handed power hitter they believe he can become.
In Other News...
Pirates Closing In On Two Veteran Returns At The Perfect Time
The Pirates are getting closer to having two experienced pieces back at a time when every healthy bat and arm matters. Ryan OHearn is expected to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis as he works his way back from a left quad strain, a sign that his return to the lineup is moving into its next phase. For a club trying to stabilize its roster down the stretch, getting a veteran contributor through that final ramp-up is a welcome development.
In the bullpen, the outlook for Kirby Yates is also trending in the right direction. General manager Ben Cherington said the veteran reliever could be back from the injured list around September 15 after dealing with a right shoulder impingement, giving Pittsburgh a target to circle as it looks to shore up late-game depth. Both players have already mattered to the Pirates this season, and their returns would come at exactly the kind of moment the team can use a boost. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates May Be Telling Fans Exactly How They View Nick Gonzales
Nick Gonzales has been one of the more interesting lineup puzzles for the Pirates lately, and the way they are handling him says plenty about where they think his value lies right now. His bat has stayed loud, with a batting average over .300 and production that has stacked up well by advanced measures, but Pittsburgh has also been careful not to overexpose him in the field after defensive metrics have painted a rough picture, especially at third base.
So the compromise has been to lean on him at designated hitter more often while mixing in infield reps based on matchups and rest needs elsewhere. It is a practical approach, and one that helps the Pirates keep his offense in the lineup without forcing him into every defensive spot, which makes the arrangement feel less like a temporary shuffle and more like a clear indicator of how the club is viewing him for now. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Catching Depth Suddenly Has Another Name To Watch
Christian Bethancourts brief stop with the Pirates has already turned into a waiting game, with the veteran catcher clearing waivers and being outrighted to Triple-A Indianapolis. Pittsburgh had recalled him to the majors recently, only to designate him for assignment without getting him into a game, a reminder of how quickly roster churn can move at the back end of a bullpen-and-catching shuffle.
Bethancourt now has the option to decline the outright assignment and become a free agent, though no decision has been announced. For a player who has spent parts of eight MLB seasons trying to carve out a steady role, the next step matters because it could determine whether his latest stay in the organization is just a paper move or the beginning of another fresh landing spot. [Read more 🡒]