It’s been lights out in Altoona!
At the Double-A level, there has been no better pitcher than Pirates’ prospect Hunter Barco. This season, the Pirates’ number seven ranked prospect has been off to a lights out start, setting a franchise record with the Altoona Curve for most consecutive scoreless innings with 25.2 on the year. This kind of performance has earned Barco a promotion to Triple-A Indianapolis, after six starts with the Curve.
Barco’s most recent start against Akron was just another installment in what has been a great start to 2025 for Barco, as he went through five scoreless innings, striking out four along the way. His season at Double-A ended ceremoniously with an ERA of 0.00, a WHIP of .070, and held opposing batters to a .131 average.
Hunter Barco hasn’t allowed a single run this season.
His 25.2 scoreless inning streak is now the longest in @AltoonaCurve history pic.twitter.com/PTwK67drsJ
— Young Bucs (@YoungBucsPIT) May 4, 2025
In just his third professional season, Barco, who was drafted out of the University of Florida in 2022, has been on a rocket ship type of trajectory ever since coming back from his Tommy John Surgery. That kind of injury can slow down a lot of player’s production, but Barco largely has been even stronger since coming back from his rehab, with his velocity actually going up a bit.
So far through the Minors, he has a career ERA of 2.54 through 30 starts, with a 1.94 average and a WHIP of 1.01.
Barco will now join a stellar rotation in Indianapolis, with the likes of Bubba Chandler, Braxton Ashcraft, Thomas Harrington, and Mike Burrows. Chandler is likely to be called up to Pittsburgh very soon, so Barco could be in a prime spot within the rotation in the near future.
MLB Pipeline ranks him atop all left-handed pitchers, and getting to Indy this early in the season should have him right on track to make his projected Major League debut in 2026.