Pirates promote top prospect Jack Brannigan to Triple-A Indianapolis
Jack Brannigan’s jump to Indianapolis puts the Pirates’ 40-man infielder one step from Pittsburgh, despite a .226 average and 11 homers.
The Pirates moved Jack Brannigan to Triple-A Indianapolis, giving the 25-year-old infielder his clearest test yet as real infield depth on a 40-man roster. Brannigan, Pittsburgh’s No. 22 prospect, reached Indianapolis after batting .226 with eight homers in 33 games at Double-A Altoona.
The organization has bet on the traits that have kept him in the conversation despite the batting average. MLB Pipeline lists Brannigan as a right-handed hitter and thrower who can handle shortstop and third base, with solid defensive tools and raw power. Pittsburgh selected him in the third round of the 2022 draft, No. 83 overall, out of Notre Dame, then added him to the 40-man roster last November to protect that profile.
Brannigan’s 2026 numbers show both the appeal and the unfinished edges. Across 159 at-bats, MiLB lists him with 36 hits, 11 homers, 21 RBIs and two stolen bases, along with a .226 average, .342 on-base percentage and .839 OPS. For a player whose value rests on versatility and pop, that blend is exactly why Indianapolis now matters: he is no longer simply a lower-level prospect, but a player the Pirates can begin measuring against more advanced pitching and faster defensive decisions.
The path here has not been clean. MLB Pipeline says Brannigan missed time with a quad injury in 2023, a left shoulder issue in 2024 and right shoulder labrum surgery last year, which limited him to 59 games. He also exited a Feb. 22 Grapefruit League game after being struck in the face by a hard-hit ground ball, then went on a rehab assignment to Bradenton on June 9 before this promotion.
That injury history has slowed his climb, but it has not taken him off the radar. Brannigan has flashed enough power to stay relevant, and Pittsburgh’s roster move shows the next step is about proving he can hold up against Triple-A arms while keeping his defensive value at shortstop and third. If he does that in Indianapolis, the Pirates will have a much better answer on whether Brannigan can be more than prospect depth and become a real option in Pittsburgh.
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