Pirates Pitching Prospect Continues Great Season Start
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PITTSBURGH — A Pittsburgh Pirates pitching prospect has had a great season and continued his form with his latest performance.
Left-handed pitcher Hunter Barco of the Double-A Altoona Curve dominated the Bowie Baysox, the Double-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, helping them get the 2-0 win.
Barco threw 76 pitches over 4.2 innings of work, allowing just two hits and two walks, while posting eight strikeouts.
Hunter Barco's domination continues 🔥
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) April 23, 2025
4.2 IP | 2 H | 0 R | 2 BB | 8 K
The @Pirates' No. 7 prospect is yet to allow a run in 17.2 innings for the Double-A @AltoonaCurve. pic.twitter.com/DtTtNSCDrz
He has started four games this season, not allowing a run over 17.2 innings pitched, while allowing just eight hits, three hit batters and four walks and posting 22 strikeouts
Barco ranks as the No. 7 prospect in the Pirates system, fourth ranked pitcher behind right-handers in Bubba Chandler at No. 1, Thomas Harrington at No. 3 and Braxton Ashcraft at No. 6 and top left-handed pitching prospect in the franchise.
He has a an MLB ETA of 2026, but if he continues his good performances, he has a good shot of making it to Triple-A Indianapolis, sooner rather than later.
Barco starred for the The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Fla. positng with a 35-4 record, 336 strikeouts and a 1.53 ERA.
He played for Florida in college, pitching there for three years, 2020-22. He finished with a 17-5 record, 3.18 ERA in 152.2 innings pitched, 189 strikeouts and held opposing hitters to a .213 batting average.
The Pirates took Barco in the second round of the 2022 MLB Draft with the No. 44 overall pick. Barco signed with the team for a $1.5 million deal.
He pitched with the Florida Complex League Pirates and then the Bradenton Marauders at Single-A in 2023, where he made six starts, posting a 5.03 ERA over 10.2 innings of work, with 19 strikeouts to four walks.
Barco would pitch most of 2024 with Greensboro at High-A, with 14 starts in 16 appearances, a 4-1 record, a 3.34 ERA in 62.0 innings pitched, 77 strikeouts to 22 walks and a .207 opposing batting average.
He earned a promotion to Altoona in Double-A for two games towards the end of last season, with a 2.25 ERA in four innings and two starts.
Dominic writes for Pittsburgh Pirates On SI, Pittsburgh Panthers Pn SI and also, Pittsburgh Steelers On SI. A Pittsburgh native, Dominic grew up watching Pittsburgh Sports and wrote for The Pitt News as an undergraduate at the University of Pittsburgh, covering Pitt Athletics. He would write for Pittsburgh Sports Now after college and has years of experience covering sports across Pittsburgh.