The Pittsburgh Pirates have had one of the best Minor League systems over the past couple of seasons, and this year has been no different. As a result the Buccos are sending three of their top prospects to play for the Glendale Desert Dogs in the Arizona Fall League.
Three out of the top 30 prospects in Pittsburgh’s system will be representing the Pirates’ organization when league play begins on Oct. 3. Wyatt Sanford (5), Easton Carmichael (8) and Jhonny Severino (28) were selected to compete alongside prospects from the Atlanta Braves, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers and Miami Marlins that make up Glendale’s squad.
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Sanford has been one of the most exciting prospects in High-A this year, despite missing nearly two months with a hand injury. With the Greensboro Grasshoppers, Sanford has been one of the best hitters in the South Atlantic League. On the season he has a .292 batting average and a .974 OPS. His 19 homers on the season certainly showed that he had more pop than many anticipated, and his 33 steals showcased his ability to be a capable athlete at the next level. His involvement in the AFL could be huge for his career moving forward, especially considering he missed significant time due to injury during the regular season.
Sanford’s former Greensboro teammate Easton Carmichael has also made waves in 2026. In just his first full season of professional baseball, the Oklahoma catcher has put together quite the campaign. Carmichael was promoted to Double-A Altoona at the tail end of July, and although he hit better with Greensboro he’s still shown flashes of excellence with the Curve. His 20 homers on the season come off the back of some solid consistent hitting at the plate. A disciplined approach, Carmichael rarely plays recklessly and is good at picking his spots offensively. His 13 steals are also staggering for a catcher, as he continues to develop into a well-rounded ball player.
Jhonny Severino had a huge first year in Greensboro as he hit .256/.308/.524 with .832 OPS. He also had 111 hits, 23 doubles, 31 home runs, 95 RBIs and 16 stolen bases. At just 21-years-old he looks like a seasoned hitter already, as he added 15 more homers to his season total from last year. The Pirates have a lot of depth at shortstop these days with players like Severino and Sanford coming up behind Konnor Griffin, and both of these Grasshoppers could be promising prospects in the making.
The Pirates also sent pitchers Cameron Keshock, Zander Mueth, Brandon Cain, Cristhian Tortosa and Michael Walsh to Glendale. Those five are not listed in the organization’s top 30 prospects list.
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