Jack Brannigan is getting another shot to climb the ladder, and this one comes with a more meaningful test. The Pirates moved the 25-year-old infielder from Double-A Altoona to Triple-A Indianapolis, a step that puts one of the organization’s more flexible upper-level prospects in front of tougher pitching. Brannigan, ranked Pittsburgh’s No. 22 prospect by MLB Pipeline, hit .226 with eight home runs and 18 RBI in 33 games with Altoona before the promotion.
His path has already included a brief big-league detour in name only. Earlier this season, Brannigan was called up when Spencer Horwitz landed on the injured list, but he never got into a game and was sent back to Altoona a day later. Since he was added to the 40-man roster in November, he has stayed on the Pirates’ depth chart, and if the power and defensive versatility show up in Indianapolis, the next opportunity could be a real one.
While Brannigan moves up a level, Seth Hernandez is making a loud statement in the lower minors. The 20-year-old right-hander, who will represent the Pirates at the 2026 MLB All-Star Futures Game, has already reached a major milestone in his first pro season. Pittsburgh took him sixth overall in the 2025 MLB Draft, and he has looked every bit like a fast-moving arm since then.
Hernandez rolled through Single-A Bradenton in six starts before getting bumped to High-A Greensboro. After a short adjustment stretch, he has settled in fast. Over his last two outings, he has given up just one earned run while striking out 15 and walking four across 11 innings.
The full season line is eye-catching: 14 starts, a 6-1 record, a 2.02 ERA and 100 strikeouts. That made Hernandez the first pitcher in Minor League Baseball to hit 100 strikeouts this year.
At High-A, his 36.0% strikeout rate shows the miss-the-bat stuff is already playing, even if the 15.1% walk rate is still something to watch. He won’t be making a Pittsburgh debut this season, but the arrow is clearly pointing up.
Murf Gray is another name making noise after his move to Greensboro. Pittsburgh’s No. 17 prospect per MLB Pipeline has put together a strong first full professional season, hitting .343 with a 1.047 OPS and 18 home runs in 64 games split between Single-A Bradenton and High-A Greensboro.
The Pirates drafted Gray in the 2025 Competitive Balance Round B out of Fresno State, and the power was never really in question. What has changed is the way he’s getting to it. Gray came into pro ball with some chase issues, but he has worked with the organization to sharpen his zone and swing only at pitches he can punish.
At 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds, he already looks the part of a middle-of-the-order bat. The quick rise to Greensboro backs up the performance, and Gray’s bat is becoming harder to overlook.
In Other News...
Pirates Dream Trade Comes With One Massive Catch
The idea of the Pirates swinging big for Adley Rutschman has all the appeal of a true deadline dream. If the Orioles decide the catcher is available, Pittsburgh would be looking at a player with a proven offensive track record and the kind of defensive reputation that can change the feel of a pitching staff. Former Pirates infielder Josh Harrison has already weighed in on the fit, and journalist Noah Hiles has pointed out why the fit makes sense for a club that has spent years searching for stability behind the plate.
The catch is that this is not the kind of trade to treat as a simple star-for-prospect swap. Rutschman is still in arbitration, which means his value does not stop at this summer, and any deal would likely come with a steep cost in young talent. The Pirates also have their own catching picture to sort through, with Endy Rodrguez offering offense and Henry Davis still searching for more at the plate, so adding Rutschman would reshape the depth chart even before the price tag comes into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Suddenly Have A Paul Skenes Problem They Can't Ignore
Paul Skenes has gone from overpowering opposing lineups to looking alarmingly human, and the latest stumble only sharpened the concern inside a Pirates rotation that has leaned on him heavily. In his most recent start, he was tagged for eight runs in four innings, a harsh line for a pitcher whose fastball has long been the headline. Even more jarring, the velocity has backed up from the premium power he showed earlier in the season, the kind of drop that immediately gets attention in Pittsburgh.
The Pirates now have to decide how seriously to treat what they are seeing and how much risk they want to take on with one of the most important arms in the organization. A closer look at his workload and condition is clearly on the table, and any delay in finding answers only increases the pressure on the rest of the staff. If Skenes cannot get back on track quickly, the ripple effects could be felt by Bubba Chandler, Jared Jones, Braxton Ashcraft and Mitch Keller, all of whom would suddenly matter even more. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Are Sending A Big Message With Konnor Griffin At Shortstop
Konnor Griffin is easing back into the Pirates lineup in a way that says plenty about how the club views his place on the infield. After a rehab assignment and a quick return to the majors, Griffin has already shown he can help offensively, and hes set to start at shortstop for a second straight game against the Phillies as Pittsburgh keeps giving him more responsibility.
Manager Don Kelly said there is a plan to build Griffin back toward playing every day at shortstop, which makes these starts about more than just filling a spot for the night. Griffin has already chipped in with a leadoff homer and other useful contributions since coming back, and the next step is seeing whether the Pirates are ready to lean on him more consistently as the season moves on. [Read more 🡒]