PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates will have one of their best pitchers in the farm system appear in an important game for them toward the end of Spring Training.
The Pirates revealed that right-handed pitcher Seth Hernandez will start in the annual Spring Breakout Game. He’ll face off against the Detroit Tigers at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Fla. on March 20, with first pitch set for 7:35 p.m.
The Spring Breakout Game features the best prospects for both sides playing against each other in a game, which highlights the future of the sport.
Hernandez is the Pirates top rated pitching prospect on the Spring Breakout roster and the second-highest ranked pitcher on the Pirates behind right-handed pitcher Bubba Chandler. He is also one of the top pitching prospects, ranking 29th on MLB Pipeline, 38th on Baseball America and 49th onESPN.
The Pirates took Hernandez with the sixth overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft out of Corona High School in Corona, Calif. and fans will get their first real chance to see him, as MLB Network will broadcast the game.
What Makes Seth Hernandez a Top Pitcher
Hernandez isn’t just rated highly for his high draft selection, but because he already has the makings of a future ace for the Pirates.
His fastball reaches 100 mph and his changeup has great movement on it, reaching near the high-80s mph. Hernandez also has two other solid offspeed pitches in his slider and curveball, which he’ll get the chance to develop more in 2026.
