Baseball America’s top 100 list includes a new Pittsburgh Pirates prospect. Wyatt Sanford joins their coveted list as the 100th best prospect by their measure. The 2024 second-round pick has had a phenomenal breakout campaign in 2026. However, the Pirates should take advantage of Sanford’s breakout, as he has become a prime trade chip for the Bucs this season.
The Pirates have another Top 100 Prospect.@YoungBucsPIT SS Wyatt Sanford enters the list today.
Here’s why: https://t.co/AhNarjQoya pic.twitter.com/Gmh0EkJQV4
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) June 8, 2026
Wyatt Sanford’s 2026 Breakout Makes Him a Prime Trade Chip
Sanford is batting .287/.425/.539 with a .432 wOBA and 146 wRC+ over his first 224 plate appearances of the season. The young infielder has had no problems hitting for power, as he’s gone yard ten times with a .253 isolated slugging percentage. Sanford has proven to be a highly effective base stealer, going 21-for-22 in stolen base attempts. The most impressive part of all this is that he is doing it in just his age-20 season at High-A Greensboro. There are currently 217 High-A batters who have a qualifying number of plate appearances. He is the 30th youngest among them.
Baseball America’s Scouting Report Is Bullish on Sanford
Baseball America gives Sanford a bright outlook, aside from moving him into their top 100 prospect list. They project four of his five tools as a 55-grade item. That includes his power, speed, fielding, and arm. Only his hit tool projects as anything other than a 55-grade, coming in at a 45-grade, and there is a reason why it’s the only part of his game that doesn’t look above-average as of right now.
One Red Flag in His Game
He is striking out over 30% of the time, with a 31.3% K rate. His contact percentage went from 73.7% last year to just 62.1% thus far in 2026. Sanford’s swinging strike rate comes in at 17.8%. For reference, Joey Gallo had a career 60.6% contact rate and a swinging strike rate of 17.6% in the Major Leagues. Sanford is still at High-A Greensboro. Of course, he is far from a finished product. He will not turn 21 until late November. There is plenty of time for him to improve his ability to make contact and avoid swinging strikes.
Still Has Plenty of Potential
However, even with that question mark in his game, Sanford still has a relatively high floor. His ability to play above-average defense at shortstop (and probably plus defense at second and third base) with a strong enough arm to play anywhere on the diamond, with good speed and baserunning instincts, gives him enough attributes to become a solid part-time utility infielder who runs into some home runs, even if the hit tool doesn’t fully develop.
The Biggest Reason Why the Pirates Shouldn’t Trade Him
Another argument against trading him is the future of second base for the Pirates. Brandon Lowe is only under control through 2026. While they could always re-sign Lowe in the offseason, the Pirates are known as a payroll-conscious team. Sanford will not push Konnor Griffin off of shortstop, barring something completely unexpected, leaving second base as his most likely home if the Pirates keep him around. After all, he is currently the Pirates’ best infield prospect.
The Pirates should capitalize on Sanford’s upward trend. The lack of consistent contact and high K% is certainly an area of concern, even if he has a high enough floor to still become a useful player in the future. Sanford ranks as one of the Pirates’ best prospects. He could certainly fetch something interesting in a trade if the Pirates opt to use him as a trade chip (which they should if they are buyers this summer).
Main Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
