Pirates send Hunter Barco back to Triple-A

Barco joins Pittsburgh’s bullpen for their final two games of the season against the Tigers after posting an underwhelming 7.64 ERA over 17 2/3 innings over seven relief appearances earlier this season. The 25-year-old starter is one of the better pitching prospects in the Pirates’ system, but he hasn’t gotten an extended look at the highest level yet.

He struck out two. Expectations were that we’d be seeing quite a bit more of Barco in the majors this season, especially after he opened the year on the Pirates’ active roster, but he was sent down after four appearances in April and made just three more over the course of the season. In Triple-A, he ended up with a 3.79 ERA and an 80/41 K/BB over 14 starts and seven relief appearances. He’s gone from looking like a potential fourth or fifth starter to more of a middle relief guy now.

With the Pirates set to have a bullpen day against the Red Sox on Sunday, Barco will add another option that’s capable of working multiple innings. Expect that he’ll head back to Triple-A Indianapolis after logging a few innings on Sunday.

Barco covered the last three innings against the Reds last night, requiring 72 pitches to get the job done. He’ll likely return at some point over August or September once his arm is fresh again.

The Pirates don’t have a day off until August 10th, so they will likely either need length out of the bullpen or a spot starter. Barco could fill either role. The 25-year-old has not had his best season, posting a 4.89 ERA in 46 innings at Triple-A this season with a 50/24 K/BB ratio.

Barco heads back to the minors after being called up to spare Pittsburgh’s bullpen during Tuesday’s contest against the Cardinals. The 25-year-old southpaw did his job, but had to wear it, allowing five runs over 4 2/3 innings of relief.

Barco provides Pittsburgh with some additional length out in relief following Monday’s bullpen game against the Cardinals. The 25-year-old southpaw was hit hard in four relief outings earlier this season, but continues to dominate at the Triple-A level. He’s an interesting prospect to keep on radar screens, but he he can safely ignored in all fantasy formats for now.

Barco looks good this spring, but has had a rough go as a long reliever to open the season, allowing seven runs (five earned) on eight hits in seven innings with a 5/7 K/BB ratio. It makes sense for him to go back down to the minors and get stretched out to work as a starter again.

Barco, MLB’s 95th-ranked prospect, made his MLB debut last season with just three innings out of the bullpen. He will presumably start this season in the bullpen as well, with Carmen Mlodzinski already named the team’s fifth starter. That means Barco will be the presumed sixth starter and long reliever and should get a chance to start if Mlodzinski falters. Barco looked good this spring, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits in 9 1/3 innings while striking out 12 and walking six. He might not be worth adding right now in his current role, but fantasy managers should watch Mlodzinski’s early starts closely to see if Barco will get a shot.

The two walks are not ideal, and Barco had just a 57 percent strike rate overall in this one, but his stuff was electric. He induced 11 whiffs on 20 swings, including posting a 47 percent whiff rate on his four-seam fastball. The 25-year-old is a long shot to make the Pirates out of spring training, but he did post a 2.81 ERA and a 116/49 K/BB in 99 1/3 innings between Double- and Triple-A last year and is one of the top prospects in the Pirates organization. He should pitch MLB innings this season.