Right-handed pitcher Braxton Ashcraft entered 2025 as one of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ top pitching prospects. The former second-round pick has had a long, winding road from getting drafted in 2018 to making his Major League debut.
While Ashcraft originally debuted as a reliever and primarily worked out of the bullpen for his first handful of games (looking like a potential high-leverage option), his last two outings are helping him make a case to be part of the Pirates’ 2026 rotation instead. In fact, he'll start again on Wednesday against the Blue Jays.
Sixteen of Ashcraft’s first 17 Major League appearances came out in relief.