Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said that Barco was removed from his last start Friday at Triple-A Indianapolis due to an apparent left elbow or triceps injury, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Barco is scheduled to meet with Pirates team doctors Monday, at which time a formal diagnosis for his injury should be made. The 25-year-old lefty has posted a 5.46 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and 39:16 K:BB over 31.1 innings in nine appearances at Triple-A since being demoted April 29.
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Pirates' Hunter Barco: Sent back to minors
Rotowire
The Pirates optioned Barco to Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday.
Barco threw 84 pitches while allowing five runs over 4.2 innings in an extended relief outing in Tuesday's loss to the Cardinals. The left-hander will likely rejoin the rotation at Indianapolis.
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Pirates' Hunter Barco: Recalled from Triple-A
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The Pirates recalled Barco from Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday, Jason Mackey of MLB.com reports.
In a corresponding move, the Pirates optioned Wilber Dotel. Barco made Pittsburgh's Opening Day roster this season and appeared in four games out of the bullpen, registering a 6.43 ERA, 2.14 WHIP and 5:7 K:BB across seven innings before he was sent down two weeks ago.
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Pirates' Hunter Barco: Optioned to Indianapolis
Rotowire
The Pirates optioned Barco to Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Barco cracked the Opening Day roster as a long reliever, but he was used sparingly and didn't pitch well on those occasions, allowing seven runs (five earned) with a 5:7 K:BB over seven innings of work. The southpaw will likely join the rotation at Indianapolis, where he can get stretched back out and wait for another opportunity in the majors.
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Pirates' Hunter Barco: Makes Opening Day roster
Rotowire
The Pirates informed Barco on Monday that he'll be included on the Opening Day roster, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Barco has been trending up, making his big-league debut at the end of last season and following that up with a strong spring training. The 25-year-old lefty had a 2.89 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 12:6 K:BB in 9.1 innings in Grapefruit League play. Carmen Mlodzinski won the fifth starter spot, but Barco and Jose Urquidy also made the club in long-relief roles. The Pirates could look to have Barco piggyback another starter during the first turn through the five-man rotation.
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Pirates' Hunter Barco: New pitch mix
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Barco added a changeup, sweeper and sinker to his pitch mix this offseason, Kevin Gorman of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.
Barco featured a fastball, spltter and slider during his brief big-league debut at the end of 2025, but believed he needed to add to his arsenal to stick in the rotation. He threw six changeups among his 57 pitches in Saturday's Grapefruit League outing against the Tigers, during which he surrendered three earned runs across three innings while striking out three and walking one. Despite the bumpy outing, Barco showed improved control, registering his first appearance of the spring without giving up multiple free passes.
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Pirates' Hunter Barco: Mixed results early in spring
Rotowire
Barco allowed no hits and walked two while striking out three across three scoreless innings in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals.
This marked Barco's first start of the spring and second appearance of the exhibition season. He's completed 4.1 innings without allowing an earned run while striking out six, though he's also walked five. Barco is likely on the outside looking in for a rotation spot to begin the regular season due to the signing of Jose Urquidy, but he should have a chance to make an impact at some point in 2026.
Barco (1-0) allowed two hits in a scoreless inning to earn the win Tuesday against the Reds.
Barco had his contract selected Tuesday and made his debut in the sixth inning. He allowed a pair of singles but ultimately escaped a jam by inducing a groundout. Barco may make one additional appearance out of the bullpen before the close of the season, and he could be in line to compete for a rotation spot to begin 2026.
The Pirates selected Barco's contract from Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday.
Barco has had an excellent season between Double-A Altoona and Indianapolis, collecting a 2.81 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 116:49 K:BB across 99.1 innings. The left-hander had been pitching mostly in relief lately with Indianapolis, and the Pirates are likely to break him in as a reliever at the big-league level.
The Pirates are expected to call up Barco from Triple-A Indianapolis for the final week of the season, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
One of the top pitching prospects in the Pittsburgh system, Barco will move up to the majors after he compiled a 2.81 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 116:49 K:BB in 99.1 innings between stops at Indianapolis and Double-A Altoona this season. While the Pirates likely envision the 24-year-old lefty serving as a big-league starter in the long run, he made four of his final five appearances with Indianapolis in relief, so he'll most likely work out of the bullpen during his initial stint in the majors. With Pittsburgh cognizant of managing the workloads of young starters Bubba Chandler, Mike Burrows and Braxton Ashcraft as the season winds down, Barco could be an option to pitch multiple innings behind any of those pitchers when their turns in the rotation come up this week.
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Pirates' Hunter Barco: Back from IL
Rotowire
Barco (shoulder) was activated from the 7-day injured list by Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Barco was diagnosed with a mild muscle strain in his left shoulder last week but missed just 10 days of action. The 24-year-old left-hander has made eight starts at Triple-A this season and has turned in a microscopic 0.89 ERA and 11.9 K/9 across 30.1 innings of work. Barco is viewed as one of the organization's top pitching prospects.
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Pirates' Hunter Barco: Out with strained shoulder
Rotowire
The Pirates announced Wednesday that Barco has been diagnosed with a mild muscle strain in his left shoulder, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Triple-A Indianapolis placed Barco on its 7-day injured list Sunday, but the 24-year-old isn't expected to be headed for an extended absence. He's since resumed throwing out to 120 feet after suffering the injury, which bodes well for his chances of returning to action at Indianapolis before the end of the month or perhaps in early June. Barco made two starts for the Triple-A club since being promoted earlier this month after opening the season with a 34:7 K:BB over 25.2 scoreless frames in six starts with Double-A Altoona.
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Pirates' Hunter Barco: Shut down at Triple-A
Rotowire
Triple-A Indianapolis placed Barco on its 7-day injured list Sunday due to an unspecified injury.
Barco sustained the injury at some point during his most recent start for Indianapolis last Thursday, when he was lifted midway through the first inning after allowing two earned runs on one hit and three walks. The 24-year-old lefty had enjoyed a strong start to the season prior to that outing, producing a 0.30 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and 39:10 K:BB across 30 innings over his seven starts between Indianapolis and Double-A Altoona.
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Pirates' Hunter Barco: Exits Triple-A outing with injury
Rotowire
Barco was removed from Thursday's start at Triple-A Indianapolis in the first inning with an undisclosed injury, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Barco was lifted in the middle of an at-bat after delivering his 23rd pitch of the frame. It's unclear what injury the left-hander is dealing with, but an update on his condition could be available later Thursday. Barco was making just his second start for Indianapolis following a promotion earlier this month from Double-A Altoona. Heading into action Thursday, the southpaw had allowed just one run with a 39:10 K:BB in his first 30 innings this season.
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Pirates' Hunter Barco: Bumped up to Triple-A
Rotowire
Barco was promoted to Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Barco had a dominant start to the season with Double-A Altoona, as he threw 25.2 scoreless innings with a 34:7 K:BB prior to his promotion. Bubba Chandler will still almost certainly beat him to the big-league rotation, though Barco could find his way to Pittsburgh at some point during the summer months.
Barco was reassigned to minor-league camp Thursday.
The Pirates' top left-handed pitching prospect, Barco made two appearances in Grapefruit League play this spring, allowing four hits, two walks and four earned runs across 2.2 innings, striking out one. Barco advanced to Double-A last season before his 2024 campaign was cut short in July due to a leg injury. He entered spring training healthy and figures to open the year back in Double-A.
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