Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Termarr Johnson bats during the seventh inning of a spring training baseball game against the Detroit Tigers Saturday, March 9, 2024, in Lakeland, Fla. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
The Triple-A Indianapolis Indians — the top minor-league affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates — start their 2026 season on Friday night against St. Paul. When the Indians take the field, there will be no shortage of top hitting prospects who will take the field.
SS Konnor Griffin
The headliner of the Indianapolis roster, of course, is consensus top prospect Konnor Griffin, who will begin the year in Triple-A after battling for a spot with the Pirates during spring training.
Griffin burst onto the scene last year after he was selected with the ninth pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. Combined between three levels, the 19-year-old hit .333 with a .941 OPS, 23 home runs, four triples, 21 home runs, 94 RBI and 65 stolen bases. He also took home a minor-league Gold Glove as a shortstop.
Although Griffin will start the season with Indianapolis, he may not be there long. The Pirates are expected to call him up to the majors at some point during the season and it could come sooner rather than later.
2B Termarr Johnson
Griffin’s double play partner will be another former first round pick of the Pirates. Termarr Johnson, who was selected fourth overall in the 2022 draft, was bumped up to Triple-A after spending the season with Double-A Altoona last year.
Johnson had a fine season with the Curve and hit .272 with a .745 OPS (118 OPS+), 15 doubles, three triples, nine home runs, 35 RBI and a second straight 20-stolen base season.
The 21-year-old Johnson, who has always been one of the younger players in the league he’s played in, drastically improved his numbers against left-handed pitching. He ended the year with a .314 batting average and a .782 OPS against southpaws.
OF Jhostynxon GarcÃa
GarcÃa was one of the stars for the Pirates at spring training after he was acquired from the Boston Red Sox in a five-player swap during the offseason.
The 23-year-old played in 17 games in the Grapefruit League and hit .405 with a 1.058 OPS, one double, two home runs, five RBI and three stolen bases.
GarcÃa made his MLB debut with Boston last season but spent most of the season in the minor leagues. In 81 games with Triple-A Worcester, he hit .271 with an .833 OPS, 12 doubles, three triples, 18 home runs and 58 RBI.
OF Esmerlyn Valdez
Valdez has soared up the Pirates’ top prospects lists of late and is considered the organization’s 11th-best entering the season, according to MLB Pipeline.
Valdez split time between High-A Greensboro and Altoona last year and combined to slash .286/.376/.520 with 25 doubles, two triples, 26 home runs and 86 RBI in 123 games.
The 22-year-old also had a sensational Arizona Fall League showing in which he complied a .368/.513/.842 batting line with three doubles, eight home runs and 27 RBI in only 19 games.
C/1B Rafael Flores
The prize of the trade that sent David Bednar to the New York Yankees at last year’s trade deadline, Flores will split time behind the plate with Endy RodrÃguez for the Indians to start the year.
Flores made his MLB debut with the Pirates at the end of last season and went 3 for 15 with a pair of doubles and two walks in seven games.
He spent most of the year in the minor leagues. In 36 games with Indianapolis last season after coming over from New York, the 25-year-old slashed .281/.363/.459 with four doubles, a triple, six home runs and 28 RBI.
Top Pitching Prospects
In addition to the handful of the noteworthy position-player prospects on their Opening Day roster, the Pirates have several notable pitchers who will suit up Indianapolis to start the year.
Antwone Kelly went 3-3 with a 3.02 ERA and struck out 116 batters in 107.1 innings between Greensboro and Altoona last season. Wilber Dotel went 7-9 with a 4.15 ERA and a career-high 131 strikeouts in 125.2 innings for the Curve. Thomas Harrington made a couple appearances with the Pirates and earned his first-career save. Reliever Brandan Bidois went a perfect 8-0 with a 0.74 ERA across four levels.
Mentioned in this article: Esmerlyn Valdez Jhostynxon Garcia Konnor Griffin Pittsburgh Pirates Rafael Flores Termarr Johnson
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