The Pirates have known as right-handed pitching prospect Braxton Ashcraft as much as the majors and despatched right-hander Isaac Mattson to Triple-A, supervisor Don Kelly instructed reporters (together with MLB.com’s Alex Stumpf). No additional transaction was required since Ashcraft has been on the Bucs’ 40-man roster since November 2023. Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported yesterday that Ashcraft could be touring with the Pirates on their present street journey to Arizona, although it wasn’t clear if Ashcraft could be formally activated or if he would simply be a part of the group’s taxi squad.
Because it seems, Ashcraft will certainly get his first style of Main League motion, and he’ll even be working in a brand new position. Ashcraft has began 69 of his 71 profession video games within the minors, however Kelly mentioned that Ashcraft will for now work as an extended reliever or bulk pitcher on Pittsburgh’s employees. This would appear to point that Mike Burrows will stay because the Pirates’ fifth starter behind the steady prime 4 of Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller, Andrew Heaney, and Bailey Falter. Burrows was solely simply known as up inside the final week to switch Carmen Mlodzinski, who struggled over 9 begins.
Pittsburgh followers might proceed to lift eyebrows over the truth that Bubba Chandler has but to be recalled for his MLB debut, because the Bucs have to date turned to Burrows (whose lone profession large league recreation got here in 2024), plus two different pitchers (Tom Harrington and now Ashcraft) who hadn’t but appeared within the Present. Whereas Chandler is likely one of the sport’s greatest general prospects, the pitching-rich Pirates appear extra keen for now to present seems to be to a few of their different well-regarded younger arms.
Ashcraft has been ready some time for the decision to the majors, as he was a second-round decide for the Pirates again within the 2018 draft. A number of accidents (together with a Tommy John surgical procedure in 2021) slowed his progress, and Ashcraft has logged solely 283 1/3 innings over components of six professional seasons. The Bucs nonetheless felt assured sufficient in his potential so as to add Ashcraft to their 40-man roster upfront of the 2023 Rule 5 Draft, and he went on to publish good numbers throughout two ranges in 2024, even with forearm irritation once more limiting his time on the mound.
Over 48 1/3 innings at Triple-A this season, Ashcraft has a 5.03 ERA, although a .361 BABIP has contributed to that inflated quantity. Ashcraft’s 51.1% grounder charge, 25.6% strikeout charge, and eight.7% stroll charge paint a greater image of his efficiency, even when his management has dipped a bit compared to his final couple of post-surgery seasons.
Baseball America ranks the righty because the fourth-best minor leaguer within the Pirates’ farm system, whereas MLB Pipeline has him seventh on their Bucs prime 30 record. Each scouting studies surprise if Ashcraft could also be greatest suited to reduction pitching, given each his damage historical past his lack of a robust or constant changeup. Ashcraft has a plus fastball within the 95-98mph vary, and his slider and curveball are additionally intriguing sufficient to make the right-hander a possible three-pitch risk.
Since Pittsburgh’s rotation is pretty full in the intervening time and Chandler’s debut is looming, Ashcraft’s bullpen position will enable him to get his foot within the door on the MLB degree, and maybe additionally trace at his eventual future. Clearly the Pirates will nonetheless give Ashcraft some seems to be as a starter down the street earlier than committing by some means to his future deployment, and for now, Ashcraft will get the chance to assist out the Pirates’ inconsistent pen.
