Prospect Watch
Hunter Barco
Position: LHP
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 235 pounds
Level: Double-A Altoona
Through two seasons as a professional baseball player, Hunter Barco has not yet known the feeling of one being uninterrupted by injury.
A second-round (No. 44 overall) draft pick out of Florida by the Pirates in 2022, Barco underwent Tommy John surgery, which limited his 2023 debut campaign in the organization to nine starts split between the Florida Complex League and Low-A Bradenton.
Last year, the 6-foot-4 lefty was solid at High-A Greensboro, going 4-1 with a 3.34 ERA over 16 appearances (14 starts), striking out 77 in 62 innings.
But after only two starts with the Altoona Curve following a summer promotion to Double-A, his campaign ended prematurely because of a leg injury.
As he continues to navigate the minor leagues, staying healthy will be key for Barco, ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Pirates’ No. 7 overall prospect.
The Pirates couldn’t have asked for a more encouraging start to 2025 by Barco, who began the season at Double-A.
Through four starts, he has yet to allow a run in 17 2/3 innings.
Already, he has put together the longest scoreless streak by a Curve pitcher to begin a season since Roansy Contreras (18 2/3) in 2021.
Barco (1-0) has struck out 22 with only four walks issued.
He owns a 0.68 WHIP, and opposing batters are hitting just .138 off him.
On April 22 vs. the Chesapeake Baysox, Barco struck out eight with two walks and a pair of hits over 4 2/3 innings in an eventual 2-0 Curve victory.
