Pirates promote pitcher Braxton Ashcraft, team's No. 7 prospect, from Triple-A

The Pittsburgh Pirates promoted No. 7 overall prospect and right-handed pitcher Braxton Ashcraft to the big leagues Monday.

Ashcraft, 25, joined the Pirates from Triple-A Indianapolis ahead of their three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks and would be in line to make his MLB debut.

Per MLB.com, he’ll work out of the bullpen to begin.

In a corresponding move, reliever Isaac Mattson was optioned to Triple-A to make room for Ashcraft on the 26-man roster.

Ashcraft is 3-3 with a 5.03 ERA over 10 starts this season with the Indians, striking out 56 with 19 walks in 48 1/3 innings.

A second-round (No. 51 overall) draft pick by the Pirates in 2018, Ashcraft has dealt with a plethora of injuries, most notably Tommy John surgery in 2021 and a left shoulder dislocation in 2019 that required surgery.

However, when healthy, the 6-foot-5 Ashcraft has demonstrated major potential.

In 2023, a year in which he was promoted from Low-A Bradenton to High-A Greensboro and finally, Double-A Altoona, Ashcraft posted a combined ERA of 2.39 in 19 starts, striking out 63 with 11 walks in 52 2/3 innings.

Last season, he went 2-2 with a 3.69 ERA at Double-A, leading to a summer promotion to the Indians.

Ashcraft dominated at Triple-A to start last season, recording an 0.47 ERA through five appearances and 48 1/3 innings.

But only 17 days post-promotion from Double-A, Ashcraft landed on the injured list.

Two more stints on the injured list followed, limiting him to just one appearance from July 7 until the conclusion of the season.

Before being called up Monday, his last start came May 21 against the Toledo Mud Hens, Ashcraft pitched six innings, allowing three runs on five hits while striking out a season-high nine.

This past spring training, Ashcraft’s fastball touched 99 mph. He also throws a slider, curveball and changeup.