Pirates prospect watch: Sean Sullivan pitching well at Double-A following shoulder injury

Sean Sullivan

Position: RHP

Height: 6-foot-1

Weight: 195 pounds

Level: Double-A Altoona

Notable: Last summer, Sean Sullivan dealt with a shoulder injury that ended his campaign with the Altoona Curve in late June after 15 appearances (13 starts), depriving the right-hander of an opportunity to build off his 2023 season, also spent at Double-A. That year, Sullivan went 8-4 with a 3.88 ERA, striking out 97 with 38 walks over 113 2/3 innings and 24 outings. He was 2-5 with a 3.84 ERA last season at the time of his injury. Navigating through lingering shoulder soreness into spring training, the question entering 2025 for Sullivan centered around how he’d recover and, particularly, if he’d demonstrate signs of readiness for promotion to Triple-A. What Pirates management decides to do with Sullivan remains to be seen. However, the 24-year-old is putting together some of the strongest performances of his professional career with the Curve. After rehab assignments with Low-A Bradenton and High-A Greensboro, Sullivan was activated from the injured list in early May, rejoining Altoona. Since then, he’s been on a tear, posting a 0.66 ERA in six games (two starts), with 13 strikeouts and two walks in 13 2/3 innings. While regular deployment out of the bullpen is new for Sullivan, he’s handled it well, producing a 0.59 WHIP and limiting batters to a .133 average.