Seth Hernandez (oblique) heads to MiLB IL

The Pirates are just taking it day by day for now, but this more serious oblique injury could mean that Hernandez is unable to make it back by the end of the minor league season. The Pirates are likely going to be cautious with their top pitching prospect, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if we don’t see Hernandez on a mound again until 2027.

Hernandez opened the second inning by fanning Blake Mitchell on an 87.8-mph changeup, induced a foul pop up from Caleb Bonemer and finished the frame by blowing a 99-mph fastball past Ike Irish on the outer edge. He averaged a sizzling 99.5 mph, hitting triple digits three times, while topping out at 101 mph in the 14-pitch appearance. The 20-year-old prodigy, selected sixth overall in last year’s MLB Draft, has a chance to finish the season as the consensus top pitching prospect in baseball. With top-of-the-rotation stuff and a rapidly accelerating trajectory, it’s not hyperbolic to say that Hernandez profiles as a potential fantasy ace alongside Paul Skenes once he arrives in Pittsburgh.

Made is the consensus top-overall prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline. The 19-year-old prodigy is hitting .281/.355/.411 in 67 games at Double-A with seven home runs, 51 RBI, 51 runs scored, 23 steals, and a 46/31 K/BB ratio. He joins Nationals shortstop Eli Willits (third-overall prospect), Dodgers outfielder Josue De Paula (fourth-overall prospect), Pirates righty Seth Hernandez (sixth-overall prospect) as the clear headliners on the senior circuit squad. The 2026 MLB All-Star Future Game will take place Sunday, July 12 at Noon ET on NBC.

Hernandez continues to establish himself as one of the top pitching prospects in baseball, becoming the first minor league to reach the 100-strikeout plateau on Friday night when he allowed just six baserunners over five frames. The 19-year-old phenom, who was selected sixth overall in last year’s MLB Draft, has allowed just one run with a 17/6 K/BB ratio across 12 2/3 innings over his last three starts, lowering his full-season ERA from 2.88 to 2.02 in the process. He’s still a ways off from the big leagues, but his present trajectory puts him on track to reach Pittsburgh at some point later next season.

Hernandez leads the entire minor leagues with 93 strikeouts and holds a strong 2.04 ERA and 0.98 WHIP across 57 1/3 innings over 13 starts this season. The 19-year-old prodigy, who was selected sixth overall in last year’s draft, is already one of the top pitching prospects in baseball and projects as a certifiable fantasy ace in the future. He’s still a couple hyperspace jumps from the majors, but it wouldn’t be shocking if his present trajectory puts him in Pittsburgh at some point later next year.

Great news for Florida State League hitters. The 19-year-old Hernandez was simply overwhelming them with 50 strikeouts and 13 hits allowed in 28 innings. His ERA stood at 0.96.

Hernandez posted nine punchouts for the third consecutive starts and generated an eye-popping 24 swinging strikes in this one. He threw 56 of 81 pitches for strikes and allowed just four baserunners over six dominant innings. The 19-year-old continues to strengthen his case as the top fantasy pitching prospect in the game. He’s struck out 48.1 percent of the batters he’s faced in his professional debut while recording a microscopic 0.96 ERA, 0.71 WHIP and 50/7 K/BB ratio across 28 innings over six starts at Low-A.

Hernandez generated 19 swinging strikes and tallied nine strikeouts for the second consecutive start. He wasn’t completely untouchable in this one as he surrendered six hits, including a pair of solo homers, while throwing 47 of 70 pitches for strikes. The 19-year-old prodigy, who was selected sixth overall in last year’s MLB Draft, holds a sparkling 1.23 ERA, 0.73 WHIP and 41/6 K/BB ratio across 22 innings this season. He’s still a couple hyperspace jumps away from potentially joining Paul Skenes atop Pittsburgh’s rotation, but he’s clearly one of the top fantasy pitching prospects in the game already.

Hernandez has looked like one of the top pitching prospects in baseball during his professional debut, recording a pristine 0.53 ERA and 32/5 K/BB ratio across 17 innings over five starts. The 19-year-old phenom, who was selected sixth overall in last year’s draft, flashes triple-digit fastball velocity in addition to strong secondaries. He topped 96 mph on 30 of his 61 pitches during Friday’s latest dominant performance. He’s a couple hyperspace jumps from the majors, despite being extremely advanced for his age and experience, but there’s a realistic chance he finishes the year in the upper minors.

It’s hard to fully capture how dominant Hernandez has been in his professional debut. The numbers speak for themselves as he’s compiled a microscopic 0.75 ERA with a 23/3 K/BB ratio over 12 innings. The 19-year-old, taken sixth overall in last year’s MLB Draft, already looks like one of the most polished young arms in baseball and could reach Double-A by the end of the season. A rapid ascent to the majors like collegiate arms Chase Burns or Trey Yesavage last year seems unlikely, but the stuff is there for him to debut at some point next year.