Farm Report: Hunter Barco strings together solid multi-start week

It hasn’t been the kindest of seasons for Hunter Barco, a former second-round pick by the Pirates out of the University of Florida. After making his major league debut in 2025, Barco began this season in the bullpen for the Pirates.

He’s posted an ERA of over seven in six games in the majors this year, and things haven’t gone much better at Triple-A.

This week he was able to string a couple of solid games together while facing the Iowa Cubs. Barco, 25, went 1-0 with an 0.87 ERA in two starts, allowing just one earned run on three hits and six walks while striking out five over 10.1 innings pitched.

In his first start, Barco allowed one run over 4.1 innings pitched, striking out two batters. He wrapped up the week strong with one of the best pitching performances he’s had this year, tossing six shutout innings and allowing just one hit and two walks.

He hasn’t missed many bats this year, and that has continued this week, but he was able to get the job done twice. His fastball generated just six whiffs on 37 swings (16.2%). His breaking/off-speed pitches produced a whiff rate of just 22%.

Despite that, he was still able to generate weak contact by attacking the zone with the fastball, slider, and change-up, allowing him to have the success that he had.

LHP Connor Wietgrefe
6 IP, 4 H, ER, 3 BB, 6 K

RHP Jack Anker
1-0, 6.2 IP, 6 H, ER, BB, 6 K

RHP Dariel Francia
1-0, 3.1 IP, H, 2 BB, 7 K

OF Mitch Jebb
8-20 (.400/.538/.650), 5 R, 2B, 2 3B, 2 RBI, 5 BB, 4 K, 1/2 SB

2B/OF Dylan Palmer
7-16 (.438/.526/.500), 4 R, 2B, 4 RBI, 3 BB, 2 K, 1/2 SB

OF Lonnie White Jr.
10-19 (.526/.609/.737), 6 R, 2B, HR, 3 RBI, 3 BB, 5 K

Derek Curiel finds his way on here at some point, but until he debuts, I wanted to highlight as many prospects as possible. With Esmerlyn Valdez graduating, I did some shuffling with the Top-10.

1. RHP Seth Hernandez, Greensboro

Last Week: Did not pitch, IL

2. OF Edward Florentino, Greensboro

Last Week: 7-29 (.241/.241/.483), 2 R, 4 2B, HR, 7 RBI, 0 BB, 3 K, 1/2 SB

3. RHP Wilber Dotel, Pittsburgh

Last Week: 1/0, 2 IP, 3 H, ER, BB, 3 K, 4.50 ERA

4. RHP Khristian Curtis, Indianapolis

Last Week: Did not pitch, IL

5. C Easton Carmichael, Altoona

Last Week: 3-17 (.176/.2222/.235), R, 2B, 4 RBI, BB, 3 K

6. 3B Murf Gray, Altoona

Last Week: 3-14 (.214/.389/.500), R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, 3 BB, 5 K

7. SS Wyatt Sanford, Bradenton/Greensboro

Last Week: 5-17 (.294/.478/.647), 4 R, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 2/2 SB, 4 BB, 10 K

8. C Axiel Plaz, Greensboro

Last Week: 5-19 (.263/.300/.316), R, 2B, 2 RBI, BB, K

9. INF Duce Gourson, Indianapolis

Last Week: 4-18 (.222/.348/.222), 5 R, 2 RBI, 4 BB, 7 K, 1/1 SB

10. C/1B Rafael Flores, Pittsburgh

Last Week: 1-6 (.167/.375/.167), 2 BB, 4 K