Every year, a handful of players ranked outside the top 10 in their respective farm systems take meaningful steps forward to improve their stock and vault up prospect rankings. Part of the fun is trying to identify those breakouts before it happens. So today, we’re identifying Pirates prospects who have the potential to make a jump in 2026.
To qualify, a player must rank outside the organization’s preseason Top 10 prospects. All scouting reports are from Baseball America’s 2026 Prospect handbook, which you can purchase here.
You can find Top 30 prospect rankings for all teams here and all breakout candidates here.
Breakout Prospects
Darell Morel, SS
BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: Morel was originally expected to sign with the Dodgers in the 2025 international class, but their pursuit of Roki Sasaki left his deal in limbo. The Pirates swooped in and signed the Dominican native for just under $1.78 million—nearly $1 million more than he was projected to receive from Los Angeles. In his pro debut, Morel slashed .287/.425/.414 with 26 steals and nearly as many walks (37) as strikeouts (45) over 50 Dominican Summer League games.
Scouting Report: At 6-foot-5 with long levers, Morel’s size, athleticism and impact potential stand out immediately. He’s a lefthanded hitter with smooth, natural leverage and plus raw power potential, though it didn’t always materialize in DSL games. That’s because pitchers identified a hole on the inside of his swing, especially against hard stuff, and he struggled to turn on those pitches. He’s still learning how to consistently access his best bat speed, and he can get a bit pull happy, and the Pirates are working with him on a more consistent barrel path. For his height, Morel moves with surprising fluidity at shortstop and has above-average arm strength. He’s a plus runner underway and has a shot to stick at the position, though he could ultimately move off to either third base or left field as he gets older and fills out.
The Future: Morel is a projectable long-term project with upside that’s easy to fall in love with. He could one day develop into a well-rounded and impactful infielder, though the hit tool remains the biggest variable.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 55 | Run: 55 | Field: 50 | Arm: 55
Duce Gourson, 2B
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Average
Adjusted Grade: 35
Track Record: Ethan “Duce” Gourson was a three-year starter at second base for UCLA and played for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team in 2023. The Pirates signed him for $187,500 as a ninth-round pick in 2024, and after a quiet debut, he broke through in 2025 by hitting .275/.370/.439 with 10 homers and 31 steals between High-A Greensboro and Double-A Altoona.
Scouting Report: At just 5-foot-11, 203 pounds, Gourson burnished a reputation in college as a heady, skills-over-tools type who was content to slash baseballs to the opposite field. But he made meaningful offseason adjustments prior to 2025, adding bat speed while refining his swing and approach to generate more impact without sacrificing contact. He pairs strong swing decisions and strike-zone control with above-average exit velocities and a better understanding of how to optimize his contact quality from gap to gap. His short, direct stroke allows him to handle velocity, and he made noticeable gains in damaging offspeed pitches in 2025. Gourson’s baseball IQ shows up on the bases and helps his average speed play up. In the field, he’s a solid defender at second base who gained experience at third and first base and has an above-average arm.
The Future: Gourson’s a detail-oriented player who knows how to maximize his tools. He put himself on the map in 2025 and has the ceiling of a reliable big league utility infielder.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Field: 50 | Arm: 55
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
Adjusted Grade: 30
Track Record: The younger brother of Pirates shortstop prospect Yordany De Los Santos, Johan signed for $2.25 million out of the Dominican Republic, the top bonus in Pittsburgh’s 2025 international class. He then ranked sixth in the Dominican Summer League with a .353 average along with 34 steals over 44 games and twice as many walks (27) to strikeouts (13) despite being one of the youngest players in his signing class.
Scouting Report: Pitchers in the DSL simply couldn’t beat the diminutive De Los Santos in the strike zone. The lefthanded hitter already has plus bat-to-ball skills and impressive hand-eye coordination, which helps him move the ball from gap to gap. Listed at just 5-foot-8, 171 pounds, De Los Santos produced the second-lightest 90th percentile exit velocity among Pirates minor leaguers with at least 100 plate appearances, and he’s not expected to grow into much power. He’s a plus runner with great instincts who makes everyone around him better, and the Pirates think he can stick at shortstop because he’s a fundamentally-sound defender with a quick first step, though his hands could be tested as he moves up the ladder.
The Future: After his impressive debut, the Pirates didn’t rule out pushing De Los Santos straight to Low-A Bradenton for his age-17 season. His table-setting skills could one day fit near the top or bottom of a big league lineup.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 30 | Run: 60 | Field: 55 | Arm: 50