By NOAH HILES

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

BRADENTON, Fla. (TNS) — The top prospects from both the Pirates and Phillies organizations will face off Friday at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Fla., in MLB’s spring breakout showcase. Now in its second year, the event consists of 16 games over a three-day stretch.

Last season, the Pirates prospects — headlined by 2024 National League Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes — defeated the Orioles’ young standouts by a final score of 3-1. This year’s matchup against the Phillies will be televised on MLB Network and can also be streamed on MLB.TV, MLB.com, the MLB app and NBCSP+.

Seventeen of the Pirates top 30 prospects, per MLB Pipeline, will participate in Friday’s showdown against the Phillies. That group includes six of the top 10 prospects in the organization and three players ranked within the top 100 in all of MiLB. Here are 10 players to watch on the Pirates spring breakout roster — five fans are likely familiar with and five more they should get to know: THE KNOWN NAMES Hunter Barco, LHP: Viewed by some as the headliner in Pittsburgh’s next wave of pitching talent, Barco is rated the team’s No. 7 prospect, per MLB Pipeline. A college arm (Florida) with size (6-foot-4, 225 pounds), Barco advanced as far as Double-A last season and went an overall 4-2 with a 3.27 ERA over 18 outings and 66 innings.

Bubba Chandler, RHP: Rated the Pirates’ top prospect and the No. 15 prospect overall in baseball, per MLB Pipeline, Chandler is viewed to be one of the game’s next dynamic right-handed arms. Similar to Skenes in 2024, he headlines the Pirates spring breakout roster this year. Last season, Chandler advanced as high as Triple-A, where he went 4-0 with a 1.83 ERA over seven starts.

Konnor Griffin, SS/OF: Last year’s first-round pick and the No. 43 prospect in baseball, per MLB Pipeline, Griffin has dazzled throughout his first spring training, compiling a handful of highlights in big-league action, including a go-ahead home run against the Orioles on March 1. Griffin, who is just 18 years old, has yet to play in a true minor league game. Measuring at 6-foot-4, 225 pounds, he will look to further showcase his natural abilities Friday.

Termarr Johnson, 2B: Rated the No. 4 prospect in the Pirates organization and the No. 82 prospect in baseball, per MLB Pipeline, Johnson, similar to others, is back for his second spring breakout game. Johnson advanced as far as Double-A last season, finishing the year in total with 15 homers, a .237 batting average and .752 OPS.

Anthony Solometo, LHP: A former top-100 prospect, Solometo’s stock has fallen a bit after a tough showing in 2024. MLB Pipeline now rates the 22-year-old left-hander as the No. 14 prospect in the Pirates organization. In search of redemption, Solometo’s first chance to make a statement comes Friday in the spring breakout game against the Phillies.

GET TO KNOW Tony Blanco Jr., 1B/ OF: A 19-year-old with notable size (6-foot-7, 245 pounds), MLB Pipeline rates Blanco as the Pirates’ No. 21 prospect. Last season, Blanco flashed potential at the plate, mashing four homers and an .890 OPS in 30 Florida Complex League (FCL) games. That season was Blanco’s first as a pro in America.

Zander Mueth, RHP: A 19-year-old selected in the second round of the 2023 draft out of Belleville East High School in Belleville, Ill., Mueth possesses the physical tools to potentially one day be an impact big-league arm, measuring at 6-foot-6, 205 pounds and throwing a fastball that has been clocked up to 97 mph. He made 20 appearances last season, going a combined 7-4 with a 2.31 ERA over 74 innings and advancing as high as the Low-A level.

Wyatt Sanford, SS: Selected in the second round of last year’s draft out of Independence High School in Frisco, Texas, Sanford is in the midst of his first spring training. While he did not receive an invite to big-league camp — unlike Griffin, the player the Pirates picked in the round prior — national analysts are high on Sanford’s potential, rating him the No. 8 prospect in the Pirates organization.

Jhonny Severino, SS/3B: Acquired in 2023 from the Brewers in exchange for first baseman Carlos Santana, Severino has continued to climb up the rankings, with MLB Pipeline now rating him as the Pirates’ No. 12 prospect. Still only 20 years old, Severino advanced up to Low-A last season, hitting .271 with 16 homers and an .869 OPS over 84 games. Measuring at 6-foot-2, 185 pounds, Severino’s future looks to likely be at a corner infield/outfield position rather than shortstop.

Axiel Plaz, C: While Plaz struggled to hit the ball consistently, batting just .203 in 84 minor league games, he regularly produced good power, slugging a combined 15 homers between rookie ball and Low-A. Only 19 years old, Plaz is entering his third professional season in the United States. MLB Pipeline rates him as the Pirates’ No. 28 prospect.