Axiel Plaz began the 2025 season in Low-A Bradenton, where he hit 15 home runs in 76 games the year prior. He would play in 55 more games, hitting nine home runs, this past season, before an injury forced him to miss a chunk of playing time. 

He was sent straight to High-A Greensboro upon finishing his rehab, where he struggled in 11 games to close out the season. Plaz then went out west to play in the Arizona Fall League, where he batted over .300 and walked more than he struck out, but none of his hits went for extra bases. 

The biggest key for Plaz this past season was making more consistent contact, and he succeeded, striking out less and seeing his contact rate improve, especially in his small cameo with Greensboro. The hits just didn’t land his way.

There seemed to be more emphasis on making more contact and using all fields, which will only help his profile down the road. The exit velocity numbers improved, even if it didn’t always show on the stat sheet.

Plaz should begin the 2026 season in Greensboro, and there is an argument that he could be the more well-rounded catching prospect in the Pirates system. There may be a few with more of an offensive upside (Omar Alfonzo and Rafael Flores), and then others who are better defensively (Derek Berg), but Plaz has a solid blend of both, with plenty of room for development.Â