Pirates' Edward Florentino: Back in action at Single-A
Rotowire
Florentino (hamstring) has gone 1-for-9 with a double, a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in two games since being reinstated from Single-A Bradenton's 7-day injured list Saturday.
Florentino was on the shelf for just over the minimum seven days due to a left hamstring strain, but the injury doesn't look like it will be derail what has been an outstanding season for the 18-year-old, who has emerged as one of the top lower-level prospects in all of the minors. Through 52 games at Bradenton, Florentino has walked at a 14.5 percent clip and has produced a .265/.384/.513 slash line with 10 home runs and 29 steals in 33 attempts.
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Pirates' Edward Florentino: Nursing hamstring injury
Rotowire
Florentino, who is on the 7-day injured list at Single-A Bradenton, is dealing with a left hamstring strain but could be back in the next week, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Florentino exited the Aug. 21 game against Daytona with the injury, and it sounds like he could be back as early as next week. The 18-year-old phenom has a rare combination of plus power (.256 ISO, .528 SLG for Bradenton) and strong bat-to-ball ability (86.1 Contact%, 5.4 SwStr%). He also excels at pulling the ball in the air, logging 21.1 percent groundball rate at Single-A. While he has seen time at first base this year, Florentino has started the majority of his games in center field and is 28-for-32 on the bases in 50 games for the Marauders.
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Pirates' Edward Florentino: Breakout season in lower levels
Rotowire
Florentino is slashing .294/.412/.574 with four home runs, 12 steals, a 16.3 percent walk rate and a 23.3 percent strikeout rate in 20 games since getting promoted to Single-A Bradenton on June 21.
Florentino had 16 strikeouts and four walks in his first 11 games of the season in the Florida Complex League, but since then, he's been one of the most productive and impressive prospects in the lower levels. He is slashing .361/.467/.680 with eight homers and 14 steals in his last 37 games across the Florida State and Florida Complex Leagues. Florentino, who signed for just under $400K in 2024, runs well for a 6-foot-4 player likely destined for either an outfield corner or first base, but it's his bat that is so exciting. He has an 85 percent contact rate and 5.9 percent swinging-strike rate since getting to Single-A and won't turn 19 until November.
