Barry Barco

FSU Alumni; Gator and Nole Dad

[Christian ✞ @CWolfPGH]

Good stuff last night from Hunter Barco -

[Rum Bunter @rumbunter]

There are going to be plenty of fans angry at the way the Pittsburgh Pirates handled Hunter Barco on Monday night — and understandably so.

But the outrage directed at manager Don Kelly misses the larger picture entirely.
https://t.co/orAgwtvYIW

[Colin Beazley @colin_beazley]

In case anyone was worried, the Pirate dads are once again back in the clubhouse drinking beers with the team.

They may have taken control of the clubhouse aux, too. Heard some ZZ Top, The Who and Steve Miller Band today.

[Pittsburgh Pirates @Pirates]

Our 2026 Opening Day roster

[Pirates On SI @PiratesOnSI]

Pirates rookie LHP Hunter Barco showed throughout Spring Training that he earned his Opening Day roster spot
https://t.co/9gj1Mue6Ah

[Jason Mackey @JMackey_PGH]

Here’s Hunter Barco reacting to making the Opening Day roster.

[Jason Mackey @JMackey_PGH]

Pirates Opening Day roster set: Hunter Barco & Jose Urquidy make it. Mike Clevinger to Triple-A.

[Pittsburgh Pirates @Pirates]

BarKo.

2 IP | 0 R | 3 SO

[Pirates On SI @PiratesOnSI]

Pirates LHP Hunter Barco's new pitch arsenal shows he's developing into a true starter in the major leagues
https://t.co/pOS1UYxUaF

[Noah Wright @NoahW_25]

Armed with 3 new pitches, Hunter Barco is looking sharp in Spring Training.

Read more in my recent @lastwordonsport article below:⤵️

#PittsburghPirates
#LetsGoBucs
#Pirates
https://t.co/9fGv4u75sI

[Jason Mackey @JMackey_PGH]

Most pitchers will add something over the offseason, but they usually won't double the number of pitches they throw.

Hunter Barco represents an exception. Here's why and how: https://t.co/EEFuK1Py3I

[The Statman @the_statman1]

Pitchers

Whiffs

Mick Abel (22)
Hunter Barco (19)
Riley Cornelio (19)
Brycen Mautz (17)
Anthony Kay (16)
Enmanuel De Jesus (16)
Jose Franco (15)
Will Warren (15)
Chase Burns (14)
Ben Hess (14)
Dylan Dodd (13)
Logan Gilbert (13)
Ryan Weathers (12)
Tarik Skubal (12)

[MLB Pipeline @MLBPipeline]

Hunter Barco (MLB No. 96) spins three hitless frames in his second outing of the spring for the @Pirates:

3 IP | 0 H | 0 R | 2 BB | 3 K

[Jason Mackey @JMackey_PGH]

Pirates starters for the next four days:
Friday: Mitch Keller vs. BAL
Saturday: Braxton Ashcraft at HOU
Sunday: Hunter Barco at STL
Monday: Mike Clevinger vs. TBR

[Pirates On SI @PiratesOnSI]

Where the top five Pirates prospects will likely start for the 2026 season
https://t.co/cMGkYPQtgg

[GMBC Superfan @GMBCSuperfan]

Hunter Barco 2026 Projections

ZiPS: 3-3, 4.23 ERA, 82 K, 87.1 IP, 1.1 WAR
Steamer: 6-7, 4.59 ERA, 102 K, 116.0 IP, 1.2 WAR

I really like Hunter Barco. I expect him to be the fifth rotation arm following the trade deadline, likely stepping in for the veteran left-hander the Pirates still haven’t signed and will almost certainly flip in July.

Barco’s profile has always been projection-forward. Drafted in the second round out of University of Florida while rehabbing Tommy John surgery, his early pro career was mostly the stuff of imagination and projection.

That changed in 2025 when he cleared 100 innings for the first time, held his stuff across multiple levels, and proved his body could sustain a starter’s workload.

The early results were pretty damn eye-opening. At Double-A Altoona, Barco opened the year with 25.2 scoreless innings across six starts (!!), allowing just 11 hits with 34 strikeouts against seven walks. The promotion to Indianapolis brought some expected regression, but manageably so. In 73.2 Triple-A innings, he posted a 3.79 ERA with 82 strikeouts, holding his own while refining secondary command against more mature bats.

Looking ahead to 2026, the most likely outcome has Barco opening the year in Indianapolis as rotation depth with a short leash to Pittsburgh. Steamer predicts 100+ innings, and both projection systems suggest 1.0+ WAR impact. He is built to be the first call if injuries, workload management, or deadline trades create an opening.

When he does return, the evaluation will hinge on how his unique traits translate against major league lineups.

Deception Over Domination 🪄

Barco’s fastball plays better than the radar gun suggests. Sitting 93–94 mph and touching 96, the pitch generates swing-and-miss rates above average for left-handers despite relatively modest velocity.

Brooks Baseball notes heavy sink with slight arm-side run, paired with a very low slot that creates a difficult approach angle. Hitters struggle to square it up, reflected in suppressed hard contact and an ability to live in the zone without getting punished. He gave up just 5 HR last year across 102.1 innings.

Completing His Set of Tools 🛠️

Fastball command is Barco’s foundation. In 2025, he filled the zone with his heater 50+ percent of the time, allowing him to work ahead and avoid free passes.

The secondary command remains the swing factor. His slider and splitter both generate whiffs, but strike rates lag behind the fastball, especially as outings stretch. In the minors, that translated to solid strikeout totals but occasional trouble once pitch counts climbed.

The question for 2026 is whether his delivery stays synced deep enough into games to turn a lineup over twice with consistency. He needs a strong slider to thrive in Pittsburgh's rotation.

The Splitter as a Ceiling Pitch 🔻

Ultimately, the key to Barco’s future success is his split-fingered fastball. Thrown in the mid-80s with late dive and subtle cut, it produces chase and weak contact against right-handed hitters.

When it’s on, the splitter can be a true bat-misser -- a perplexing knee-buckler that leverages the rest of his arsenal. Strikeouts rise, balls in play dribble, and the case for starter becomes much easier to make. It is the pitch to watch this spring, and why I'm so bullish on him.

Bottom Line 📌

Barco is currently the only left-handed starter on the 40-man roster. If the fastball deception holds and the splitter continues to miss bats at the top level, average secondary command is enough to support a back-end starter who absorbs innings and keeps games playable. Not a crafty lefty profile - something even better.

Though he is likely to open 2026 with the AAA Indians, the path back to Pittsburgh is short once needs arise. He’s a rotation lock by the end of the year.

The Hunter Barco era is soon to begin. Prepare yourself.

Note: This is an extended look at the predicted Pirates 26-man running through the end of January. Check out the whole series on my profile and like/share for visibility. Thanks!

@bbarco7

[Pittsburgh Pirates @Pirates]

Happy Birthday, Hunter Barco 🎂

[UNF Baseball @OspreyBSB]

Phase I of facility enhancements for Harmon Stadium are underway!

#SWOOP
https://t.co/rAUGYMJ0MY

[UNF Baseball @OspreyBSB]

Ospreys sign a top 50 recruiting class in the nation, per the 2026 Perfect Game recruiting rankings!

#SWOOP
https://t.co/FO5JiawMJj

[Milb Central @milb_central]

Konnor Griffin and Hunter Barco have been named the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Prospects of the Year by MLB Pipeline 👀