Pirates Prospect Shines in Major League Debut Against Diamondbacks

Phoenix, AZ – The Pittsburgh Pirates faced off against the Arizona Diamondbacks on May 27, 2025, with rookie pitcher Braxton Ashcraft making a significant impact in his Major League debut.

Called up from Triple-A Indianapolis late Sunday, Ashcraft joined the Pirates’ bullpen as a long relief option, a role the team has lacked this season. Despite struggling in 10 starts with a 5.03 ERA in the minors, Ashcraft delivered an impressive performance, throwing three scoreless innings against a challenging Diamondbacks lineup.

Ashcraft relied on a four-seam fastball that averaged 97 MPH and occasionally reached 99 MPH, along with a slider thrown 48% of the time at speeds of 90-91 MPH. While he recorded only two strikeouts in the game by inducing soft contact, his potential was evident. He posted 56 strikeouts in 48.1 innings during his Triple-A season.

Manager Derek Kelly expressed optimism about Ashcraft’s future, stating that while the team envisions him as a starter, he is currently best utilized in a bulk relief role. Should starter Mike Burrows struggle in his upcoming game, the question of Ashcraft stepping into a starting position may arise.

Ashcraft’s three-inning outing marked a milestone as he became the first Pirates reliever to achieve that feat this season, providing much-needed support to a fatigued bullpen.