In back-to-back years, the Pirates landed Paul Skenes and Konnor Griffin, MLB’s present No. 1 general prospect, within the first spherical of the home Draft. On the worldwide market, they’ve landed High 100 prospect Edward Florentino, Esmerlyn Valdez and Tony Blanco Jr., all of whom are high-upside sluggers who look set to make an influence as a part of the following wave of Metal Metropolis baseball.
Because the 2026 worldwide signing interval opens, the Pirates have added to their appreciable prospect depth by coming to phrases with a trio of Dominican phenoms in outfielder Jeancer Custodio (No. 7), shortstop Wilton Guerrero Jr. (No. 17) and shortstop/third baseman Alexander Pio (rating simply exterior the High 50), giving them one of many strongest general lessons within the league.
Custodio slots in because the highest-ranked worldwide signee in franchise historical past. Alongside Guerrero, the Pirates have landed a pair of high 20 prospects in the marketplace for the second time up to now 5 years.
The membership acquired $8,034,900 in pool cash, tied for the very best allotment within the league, and put it to good use with Guerrero receiving $1.95 million, Custodio knocking down $900,000 and Pio touchdown $500,000.
Yr after 12 months, Jaime Ramos, a member of MLB’s Coach Partnership Program, churns out proficient ballplayers. Custodio is the premier hitter amongst this 12 months’s group with a quiet and managed right-handed swing that’s direct to the ball. He was the D.R.’s second-best hitter on its 2024 U15 World Cup workforce in Panama (behind solely Josuar Gonzalez, the No. 2 prospect within the ‘25 worldwide class). He went 8-for-24 and efficiently swiped all 4 bases he tried to steal.
Although Custodio is simply 5-foot-10, evaluators imagine his pure capability to seek out the barrel and loft pitches will result in house run energy as he fills out. He’s simply a mean runner and is probably going destined for an outfield nook, however his all-around maturity and innate hitting capability make him one of many extra thrilling bats in his class.
Guerrero has far and away essentially the most achieved baseball household within the 2026 class with a Corridor of Fame uncle (Vladimir Guerrero), a five-time All-Star cousin (Vladimir Guerrero Jr.) and his father, eight-year MLB veteran Wilton Guerrero Sr., serving as his coach as a part of MLB’s Coach Partnership Program.
If Guerrero have been enjoying highschool ball stateside, he’d seemingly be on the radar of many Division I school packages together with his elite-level baseball IQ and top-tier velocity. He’s ripped off home-to-first occasions of 4.1 seconds and is a menace on the basepaths, constantly going from first to 3rd and second to house, along with stealing baggage.
A right-handed hitter, Guerrero usually swings with the intent to do injury. Together with his background, it’s no shock that he earns optimistic marks for his all-around competitiveness and want to enhance.
Pio has educated alongside Custodio as an newbie and has the kind of upside in his 6-foot-2 body that has drawn appreciable consideration. He popped a number of exit velocities north of 105 mph as a 16-year-old, a glimpse into his right-handed energy potential. It’s primarily pull-side pop at this stage, however a power-hitting, strong-armed third baseman is a terrific mould to suit.
The Pirates additionally landed infielder Anyelo Jean, a 6-foot-1 left-handed hitter who trains with Sandis Nin, additionally a member of MLB’s Coach Partnership Program, within the Dominican Republic. Jean-Baptiste has impressed evaluators with a clear bat path and easy mechanics that allow him to sq. up quite a lot of pitches. He’s in a position to faucet into some extra-base pop with out promoting out, and he nearly by no means whiffs. It’s seemingly a 3rd base/left-field profile in the long term, however it’s the hit device that can assist him transfer up the system.
COMPLETE PIRATES PROSPECT COVERAGE
One of many high hurlers signing amongst this 12 months’s class is left-hander Miguel Molina. Whereas he grew up in Nicaragua, he was born in Costa Rica. If he makes it to the Majors, he would turn into the primary participant born within the Central American nation to succeed in The Present. He has a projectable body and has touched the low 90s as a 16-year-old, giving him a strong beginning base alongside his three-pitch combine.
A global participant is eligible to signal with a Main League workforce between Jan. 15 and Dec. 15. He should flip 16 earlier than he indicators and be 17 earlier than Sept. 1 the next 12 months.
Which means gamers born between Sept. 1, 2008, and Aug. 31, 2009, can be eligible to signal within the present signing interval. Gamers should be registered with Main League Baseball upfront to be eligible to signal
