Sportsvival is updating the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Top 10 Prospects for September, and this version is not just a stat leaderboard. The numbers matter, but this list is also about future skills, upside, position value, age, level, athleticism and what each player could become. Termarr Johnson is out of the Top 10 for this update. The talent is still there, but the production has not matched the name value, and his 2026 season also took a major hit with the torn left ACL news.
The big mover is Murf Gray. He is no longer just a lower-level bat putting up hot numbers. He has now reached Double-A Altoona, hit 30 home runs, driven in 90 runs and forced himself into the heart of the Pirates’ future conversation. For this Sportsvival update, Gray moves all the way up to No. 2.
Stats are current through the latest public MiLB/MLB pages available on August 30, 2026. Since September has not started yet, this is the September update using end-of-August numbers.
Updated Top 10
Rank Player Pos. Team/Level 2026 Stats
1 Seth Hernandez RHP Greensboro, High-A 18 G, 18 GS, 6-1, 2.43 ERA, 74.0 IP, 118 SO, 1.05 WHIP
2 Murf Gray 3B Altoona, Double-A 424 AB, 90 R, 127 H, 30 HR, 90 RBI, 4 SB, .300 AVG, .400 OBP, .966 OPS
3 Derek Curiel OF FCL Pirates, Rookie No pro stats yet, 2026 first-round pick, No. 5 overall
4 Edward Florentino OF Greensboro, High-A 363 AB, 78 R, 85 H, 25 HR, 79 RBI, 11 SB, .234 AVG, .363 OBP, .870 OPS
5 Wyatt Sanford SS Greensboro, High-A 263 AB, 68 R, 71 H, 15 HR, 37 RBI, 31 SB, .270 AVG, .412 OBP, .922 OPS
6 Axiel Plaz C Greensboro, High-A 341 AB, 49 R, 100 H, 15 HR, 66 RBI, 3 SB, .293 AVG, .374 OBP, .852 OPS
7 Easton Carmichael C Altoona, Double-A 402 AB, 61 R, 118 H, 19 HR, 84 RBI, 11 SB, .294 AVG, .340 OBP, .833 OPS
8 Levi Sterling RHP Greensboro, High-A 23 G, 23 GS, 4-8, 4.60 ERA, 103.2 IP, 121 SO, 1.21 WHIP
9 Aiden Ruiz SS FCL Pirates, Rookie No pro stats yet, 2026 second-round pick, No. 44 overall
10 Chris Rembert 2B/SS Bradenton, Single-A 48 PA, 40 AB, 7 R, 12 H, 3 2B, 3 RBI, 5 SB, .300 AVG, .417 OBP, .792 OPS
1. Seth Hernandez, RHP
Hernandez stays at No. 1 because the future skill is still the loudest in the system. Even with the injury slowing down the end of his season, the right-hander’s 118 strikeouts in 74 innings show why he still projects as a high-end starting pitcher. The Pirates drafted him No. 6 overall in 2025, and his first full pro season backed up the hype with power stuff, swing-and-miss ability and frontline starter upside.
2. Murf Gray, 3B
Gray is the big riser and belongs this high now. He is hitting .300 with 30 home runs, 90 RBIs and a .966 OPS, and he has already been promoted to Double-A Altoona. That is not just a hot month, that is a full-season statement. The future skill here is impact power, and if he can stay at third base, the Pirates may have found one of the most important bats in their entire farm system.
3. Derek Curiel, OF
Curiel sits at No. 3 because the ranking is about future value, not just current pro stats. The Pirates selected him fifth overall in the 2026 MLB Draft, and he brings a polished left-handed bat, center-field ability and a strong amateur background. He does not have pro stats yet, but the hit tool, athleticism and first-round pedigree make him one of the safest upside bats in the system.
4. Edward Florentino, OF
Florentino’s batting average is not high, but the power is too loud to ignore. A 19-year-old left-handed hitter with 25 home runs, 79 RBIs, 11 stolen bases and an .870 OPS in High-A is a major prospect. The risk is contact, but the reward is a middle-of-the-order bat with real damage ability.
5. Wyatt Sanford, SS
Sanford continues to look like one of the more complete prospects in the system. He is not just putting the ball in play, he is getting on base at a .412 clip, showing double-digit home run power and adding 31 stolen bases. A shortstop with on-base skill, speed and growing pop deserves to stay firmly in the top five.
6. Axiel Plaz, C
Plaz moves into a strong spot because catchers who can hit have real value. His .293 average, 15 home runs, 66 RBIs and .852 OPS give the Pirates another catching prospect with offensive upside. The future skill is bat-first catching value, and if the defense keeps developing, his stock can keep climbing.
7. Easton Carmichael, C
Carmichael is right there with Plaz in the catching picture. He has reached Double-A Altoona and put together a strong year with 19 home runs, 84 RBIs and an .833 OPS. The bat has carried him up the ladder, and the Pirates now have multiple catchers who are making a real case to be part of the future.
8. Levi Sterling, RHP
Sterling’s ERA is not perfect, but this ranking is about future skills. A 19-year-old right-hander with 121 strikeouts in 103.2 innings has the kind of arm that keeps him in the Top 10. He has starter size, strikeout ability and enough development time left to turn into a very useful pitcher for Pittsburgh.
9. Aiden Ruiz, SS
Ruiz is here because of upside, position value and draft investment. The Pirates took him in the second round with the 44th overall pick in the 2026 Draft, and he brings a premium-position profile as a shortstop. He does not have a pro stat line yet, but this is the kind of athlete and defender you keep high on the list until the bat gives you a reason to move him.
10. Chris Rembert, 2B/SS
Rembert stays in the Top 10 because this list is not only about long pro track records, it is about future skills. The Pirates selected him in the 2026 MLB Draft, taking him in the second round at No. 51 overall, and that draft investment matters. In his first small pro sample, he is hitting .300 with a .417 on-base percentage, three doubles and five stolen bases. It is early, but the bat speed, athleticism and on-base ability give him a real case to remain in the back of the Top 10.
Just Missed
Johan De Los Santos was the toughest cut. He has speed, youth and athleticism, with 39 stolen bases and a .361 OBP in 2026. If this were purely a speed-and-tools list, he could easily be No. 10, but Rembert gets the edge because of draft status, college performance, early pro on-base production and the Pirates’ investment in him.
Final Thoughts
This September update shows a Pirates system that still has real talent, even after graduations and deadline movement. Seth Hernandez remains the top future arm. Murf Gray is now one of the biggest stories in the organization and has earned a major move up the board. Derek Curiel, Edward Florentino and Wyatt Sanford give the Pirates three different types of position-player upside, while Plaz and Carmichael make catcher one of the most interesting spots in the farm system.
The biggest change is the fall of Termarr Johnson out of the Top 10. At some point, rankings have to reflect production, health and direction, not just draft position. For Sportsvival, the new story is clear: the Pirates’ next wave is now built around Hernandez’s arm, Gray’s power, Curiel’s polish, Florentino’s thunder, Sanford’s all-around game and a catching group that suddenly looks better than expected.
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