Unfortunately, not every top prospect pans out in Major League Baseball. For one reason or another, some prospects never reach their full potential. The Pittsburgh Pirates have had plenty of busts in their history. The Bucs have some former top prospects on their 40-man roster that could be in DFA limbo this winter. With their roster at 38 players, it will rise to 39 once they activate Endy Rodriguez off the 60-day injured list; adding more than one player via trade or free agency could force them to DFA one of these former top Pirates prospects.
Thomas Harrington looked like a future rotation anchor for the Pirates not so long ago. He entered 2025 as a consensus top 100 prospect and a top five Pirates prospect. After a promising 2023 season, Harrington built on it in 2024, posting a 2.61 ERA, 3.11 FIP, and a 0.96 WHIP over 117 1/3 innings between Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis. He struck out about a quarter of batters (25.1% K rate) while posting a sub-5% walk rate (4.1% BB%). Harrington was one of just 16 pitchers in 2024 with an ERA under 3.00 and K-BB% over 20% in 100+ IP.
Harrington got his first crack against Major League hitters in 2025; however, it went poorly, as he allowed 15 earned runs, seven walks, and 18 hits in just 8 2/3 innings. His Triple-A numbers weren't anything to write home about either, with a 5.34 ERA, 5.55 FIP, and 1.31 WHIP over 96 innings. The former top-100 prospect's walk rate nearly doubled to 8%, while his strikeout rate fell to 21.7%. More worryingly, his HR/9 jumped from 0.69 in 2024 to 1.88 in 2025 at Indy.
While Harrington had a chance at securing a roster spot out of Spring Training , he spent all of 2026 at Triple-A, where his numbers got progressively worse. He had a 6.02 ERA, 4.59 FIP, and 1.55 WHIP over 101 2/3 innings. His K% stayed consistent at 21.3%; however, his walk rate got worse, rising to 9.1%. His HR/9 fell back down to Earth at 1.15; however, that's about the only positive takeaway from his season. He pitched so poorly the Pirates bounced him around between the rotation and bullpen.
Apr 1, 2025; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Thomas Harrington (78) throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays in the second inning at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Harrington doesn't have overpowering stuff. Although his fastball has above-average movement, it only sits at 92-93 MPH. Neither MLB Pipeline nor Baseball America graded out one plus pitch in his arsenal when he was a top Pirates prospect at the start of 2025. He also doesn't have a deceptive arm angle or release point to make his stuff play up. His walk rate is increasing year by year, which only compounds the issue. With other pitching prospects on the roster, like Antwone Kelly , Wilber Dotel , Khristian Curtis , the rising Connor Wietegrefe , and a similar soft-tossing, command-centric pitcher and consensus No. 1 Pirates prospect, Seth Hernandez , Harrington's future with the Pirates is bleak.
The Boston Red Sox drafted Nick Yorke in the first round of the shortened 2020 draft. At the 2024 trade deadline, they sent him packing to Pittsburgh in exchange for former top pitching prospect Quinn Priester . Yorke was a promising young hitter heading into the 2025 season. He spent most of his season at Triple-A, batting .333/.420/.498 with a .409 wOBA and 143 wRC+ over 344 plate appearances (he had 197 PAs at Double-A in 2024). He only struck out 18.9% of the time, with a solid 12.2% walk rate. The infielder displayed plenty of raw power, with a 91.5 MPH exit velocity. He also hit eight home runs.
Yorke got a brief look in MLB late into 2024, but spent most of 2025 at Triple-A Indy. His performance at the plate took a step back, batting .287/.343/.402 with a .343 wOBA and 104 wRC+. He hit only seven home runs in 440 plate appearances. Yorke's walk rate fell to 8.2%, while his strikeout percentage rose to 22%. The former top Pirates prospect posted just a .583 OPS in 72 MLB plate appearances as well.
Yorke had an opportunity in 2026 to secure the third base job , and while he got off to a solid start to the year, he failed to maintain his performance. He turned in just a .563 OPS over 117 plate appearances in the MLB. He also missed time this year with a fractured finger from an HBP. When Yorke was healthy enough to take the field, the results weren't pretty, as he hit .203/.295/.341 with a wRC+ of just 80.
Aug 17, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Nick Yorke (38) hits a there-run double against the Detroit Tigers during the sixth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Yorke has shown solid defense at second, third, and first base, as well as both outfield corners in the MLB. His ability to play anywhere the Pirates need him to could save him from a potential DFA. However, with a similar utility man in Jared Triolo on the roster, who is a better defender, and trade deadline acquisition Jacob Gonzalez , who can play all over the infield, Yorke may find himself getting let go this offseason.
The Pirates took Jack Brannigan with their third-round pick in 2022 out of Notre Dame as a two-way prospect. Although he dropped pitching in pro ball, Brannigan made a strong first impression in 2023, posting an OPS over .900 between A-Ball Bradenton and High-A Greensboro and falling just one home run shy of a 20/20 season despite appearing in only 87 games. Brannigan entered 2024 as a top-ten Pirates prospect. He turned in solid numbers again, with an .834 OPS and 130 wRC+. The infield prospect showed both power and speed once again, with 18 home runs and a dozen stolen bases in 341 plate appearances. Injuries limited him again, but it was another promising season.
2025 was a down year for Brannigan. He posted league-average numbers, with a .687 OPS, .324 wOBA, and 103 wRC+ at Double-A Altoona. However, he only appeared in 59 games with 237 plate appearances. Brannigan got his most playing time in 2026 with 378 plate appearances over 91 games, but the results were about league average once again. He owned just a .756 OPS, .339 wOBA, and 98 wRC+ over five levels of the minor leagues.
Jul 8, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Jack Brannigan (76) in the batting cage before the game against the Atlanta Braves at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Brannigan has always shown strong defensive prowess. He has spent most of his professional career at shortstop, where he grades out as an above-average glove. He also has nearly 1,000 innings at the hot corner, his primary position throughout college, and 143 frames at the keystone. Brannigan, who threw in the mid-to-upper 90s in college, has a powerful arm that can play anywhere on the field. He has also displayed above-average speed and power. However, the question has always been his ability to make contact. He has a career 28.5% K rate, and his called-and-swinging strike rate is consistently over 30%. On the plus side, he does have a 12.7% walk rate.
Brannigan made his MLB debut in 2026, appearing in two games. Like Yorke, he may bring defensive versatility, but the Pirates have other utility men on their roster with either better defense or less risk. Brannigan's power does give him a leg-up on other utility men the Pirates have; however, his strikeouts limit how effective his power is.
Main Photo Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
More Pirates News:
