Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects Set for 2026 Arizona Fall League Action

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The Pittsburgh Pirates are done for the 2026 season, but some of their prospects will get another chance to prove themselves in the Arizona Fall League. Pittsburgh has players on the Glendale Desert Dogs, one of six teams in the league, with five MLB franchises' future talents spread among them. The league runs for the next month, offering experience and exposure to the baseball world.

Shortstop Wyatt Sanford had a strong 2026 season for High-A Greensboro, batting .292/.423/.551 with an .974 OPS in 72 games. He recorded 80 hits, 16 doubles, five triples, 17 home runs, 42 RBI, and 33 stolen bases on 34 attempts, showcasing great speed and solid defense with a strong arm.

Sanford, the second-round pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, is still developing at 20. He excelled not only at hitter-friendly First National Bank Field, where he hit .289/.410/.577 with a .987 OPS, but also on the road, batting .275/.422/.517 with a .939 OPS. Baseball America and MLB Pipeline rank him fifth overall in the Pirates' system. He will use the AFL to improve his contact and power, aiming for a promotion to Double-A Altoona in 2027.

Catcher Easton Carmichael could address the Pirates' need for depth behind the plate. With Greensboro, he batted .305/.350/.518 with an .868 OPS in 74 games, collecting 95 hits, 14 doubles, 16 home runs, and 63 RBI. In Double-A, he hit .244/.313/.412 with a .725 OPS in 37 games.

Carmichael is solid across many areas with few weaknesses. The Pirates have three catchers on their 40-man roster: Henry Davis, who struggles at the plate; Rafael Flores Jr., who struggles defensively; and another. Carmichael could be important depth next season but must improve at Double-A and Triple-A Indianapolis.

Right-hander Zander Mueth is a pitcher to watch despite recent struggles. Injuries have limited him to 22 starts and 26 games over the past two seasons, totaling 55.1 innings. His stats at Single-A Bradenton were poor: in 2024, he went 0-4 with a 7.36 ERA in 10 starts; in 2025, he was 0-3 with a 9.18 ERA in nine starts and 13 games.

Mueth was once a top pitching prospect after being drafted 67th overall in the 2023 MLB Draft Competitive Balance Round B out of Belleville East High School in Belleville, Illinois. The AFL could help him get back on track as he turns 22 next June, working on his pitch mix of four-seam fastball, cutter, sinker, slider, and changeup, with the goal of advancing to Greensboro in 2027.

Infielder/outfielder Jhonny Severino had a breakout 2026 season for Greensboro, batting .256/.308/.524 with an .832 OPS in 113 games. He amassed 111 hits, 23 doubles, 31 home runs, 95 RBI, and 16 stolen bases. He led the South Atlantic League in home runs, ranked second in RBI, tied for fourth in hits, fifth in slugging percentage, and tied for eighth in doubles.

Severino hit 18 of his 31 home runs at home, batting .257/.312/.565 with an .877 OPS, while also performing well on the road with a .256/.305/.484 line, .789 OPS, and 13 home runs. He turns 22 on November 8, and a strong AFL showing could earn him a promotion to Altoona.

The Arizona Fall League provides a crucial platform for these Pirates prospects to develop and demonstrate their potential for future roles in Pittsburgh.

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Pittsburgh Pirates Arizona Fall League Wyatt Sanford Easton Carmichael Zander Mueth Jhonny Severino Glendale Desert Dogs

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