Pirates Reveal Preliminary 2026 Spring Breakout Game Roster
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PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates have their roster ready for the annual Spring Breakout Game in 2026, with their best prospects featuring in the outing.
The Pirates have 40 players on their preliminary roster for the Spring Breakout Game, which includes 16 pitchers and 24 position players, with five catchers, 12 infielders and seven outfielders.
Pittsburgh takes on the Detroit Tigers in the annual Breakout Game, hosting their foe at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Fla. on March 20 with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m.
MLB Spring Breakout is in its third year and will take place March 19-22, featuring the best prospects from every franchise across the league.
The games will take place with Grapefruit League teams facing each other in Florida and Cactus League teams doing the same at their Spring Training stadiums in Arizona. The Pirates faced off against the Phillies last season, losing 5-3 at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater.
A Quick Look at the Pirates Spring Breakout Roster
The Pirates have the best future talent in the Spring Breakout game, who should all get starts, for the most part.
Shortstop Konnor Griffin, the top prospect in baseball, is on the roste for the second straight season and so too are right-handed starting pitcher Bubba Chandler and left-handed starting pitcher Hunter Barco, who featured the past three seasons as well.
Griffin will go up against a the second best prospect in baseball in Tigers shortstop Kevin McGonigle, a battle that will continue on into their major league careers.
Top outfield prospect Edward Florentino is on the Breakout Roster for the second straight season and newly acquired outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia makes it on as well, who the Pirates got in a trade from the Boston Red Sox.
Right-handed pitcher Seth Hernandez, who the Pirates took sixth overall in the 2025 MLB Draft from Corona High School in Corona, Calif., will make his Spring Breakout debut and his professional debut in 2026 as well.
Expect the likes of Termarr Johnson to make the roster, plus catcher Rafael Flores Jr., power-hitting infielder Tony Blanco Jr. and outfielder Esmerlyn Valdez, rising pitchers in Wilber Dotel and Antwone Kelly
Pirates Players on Spring Breakout Roster
Each player is organized by their name, ranking on both MLB Pipeline and Baseball America, plus if they make the final roster, what appearance would this be for them in the Spring Breakout game.
Pitchers
Name | Arm | MLB Pipeline Ranking on Pirates (Ov.) | Baseball America Ranking | Spring Breakout Appearance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Bubba Chandler | Right | 2nd (11th) | 2nd (15th) | Third |
Seth Hernandez | Right | 3rd (29th) | 4th (38th) | First |
Hunter Barco | Left | 5th | 9th | Third |
Wilber Dotel | Right | 13th | 10th | Second |
Antwone Kelly | Right | 9th | 8th | First |
Levi Sterling | Right | 16th | 23rd | First |
Thomas Harrington | Right | 14th | 18th | Second |
Khristian Curtis | Right | 24th | 15th | Second |
Jeter Martinez | Right | 28th | 24th | First |
Zander Mueth | Right | 26th | 25th | Second |
Reinold Navarro | Left | 27th | 16th | First |
Brandon Bidois | Right | None | None | Second |
Yonleg Gaetano | Right | None | None | Right |
Justin Meis | Right | None | None | First |
Cy Nielson | Left | None | None | First |
Michael Walsh | Right | None | None | First |
Catchers
Name | Batting Side | MLB Pipeline Ranking on Pirates (Ov.) | Baseball America Ranking | Spring Breakout Appearance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Omar Alfonzo | Left | 17th | 13th | Third |
Easton Carmichael | Right | 19th | 26th | First |
Rafael Flores Jr. | Right | 10th | 6th | Third |
Edgleen Perez | Right | 23rd | None | Second |
Axiel Plaz | Right | 22nd | 20th | Third |
Infielders
Name | Position | MLB Pipeline Ranking on Pirates (Ov.) | Baseball America Ranking | Spring Breakout Appearance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Tony Blanco Jr. | 1B | 30th | 29th | Third |
Jack Brannigan | SS/3B | 25th | 28th | Third |
Yordanny De Los Santos | SS/3B/2B | 21st | None | Second |
Duce Gorson | 2B/3B/1B | 29th | 21st | First |
Murf Gray | 3B | 20th | 27th | First |
Konnor Griffin | SS | 1st Overall | 1st Overall | Second |
Termarr Johnson | 2B | 7th | 7th | Third |
Darel Morell | SS | 18th | 17th | First |
Callan Moss | 1B | None | None | First |
Wyatt Sanford | SS | 8th | 12th | Second |
Sammy Stafura | SS | 12th | 14th | Second |
Nick Yorke | 2B/OF | 15th | 19th | Second |
Outfielders
Name | MLB Pipeline Ranking on Pirates (Ov.) | Baseball America Ranking | Spring Breakout Appearance |
|---|---|---|---|
Titus Demitru | None | None | First |
Edward Florentino | 4th (50th) | 3rd (28th) | Second |
Jhostynxon Garcia | 6th | 5th | Second |
Mitch Jebb | None | None | Second |
Brian Sanchez | None | None | First |
Will Taylor | None | None | First |
Esmerlyn Valdez | 11th | 11th | Second |
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.