Pirates prospect watch: No. 11 prospect Jack Brannigan finding ways to get on base

Jack Brannigan

Position: SS/3B

Height: 6-foot

Weight: 210 pounds

Level: Double-A

As he approaches two months at Double-A with the Altoona Curve, Jack Brannigan’s slash line (.238/.335/.385) hasn’t been particularly eye-popping.

However, the 24-year-old infielder has shown some signs of acclimation at the plate as he gets settled against stiffer nightly competition.

Brannigan, whom MLB Pipeline ranks as the Pirates’ No. 11 overall prospect, recently saw a 23-game on-base streak come to an end May 20.

While his stretch was active, it ranked as the longest in the Eastern League and was tied for the longest in all of Double-A, along with the Montgomery Biscuits’ Homer Bush Jr.

Over that span, Brannigan went 22 for 86 (.256) with five doubles, a triple, three homers and 12 RBIs.

On the year, he has four home runs with 23 RBIs.

Last season with High-A Greensboro, Brannigan slashed .238/.344/.490 with 18 home runs and 53 RBIs.

Hitting for a higher average will ultimately be key in his continued ascension through the minors, as will finding a way to translate the power he showcased at the Single-A level.

Brannigan’s strikeout rate (28.6% this year, compared to 30.6% in 2024 with the Grasshoppers) will also be a needed area of improvement.

Defensively, Brannigan continues a transition from third base to shortstop as he navigates the Pirates’ farm system.

At Notre Dame, where the Pirates selected him in the third round (No. 83 overall) of the 2022 MLB Draft, Brannigan came up as a third baseman and even doubled as a relief pitcher for the Fighting Irish.

So far this season, Brannigan has logged 29 games (250 1/3 innings) at short, compared to eight games and 62 1/3 innings at third with the Curve.

Last year with Greensboro, his defensive deployment consisted of 40 games at shortstop and 26 at third base.