Where Hunter Barco Fits Into The Pirates’ Future Plans After Down Season

Heading into 2026, Hunter Barco ranked among the Pittsburgh Pirates’ best prospects . Baseball America ranked him among the team’s top ten prospects, while MLB Pipeline was even more bullish , placing him on their top 100 prospects list. However, the Southpaw failed to meet expectations. With his down season in 2026, one has to wonder what his role with the Pirates is moving forward. Where Hunter Barco Fits Into The Pirates’ Future Plans After Down Season Barco Disappointed In 2026 Barco pitched 17.2 innings in MLB this season, allowing 15 earned runs on 21 hits.