Murf Gray was named the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Willie Stargell Slugger of the Year after leading all Pirates minor leaguers in home runs in 2026, while fellow prospect Seth Hernandez said he has fully recovered from a left oblique strain that ended his season early. The dual recognition highlights two of the system’s top young talents heading into the offseason.
Gray’s Breakout Season Earns Slugger Honors
Gray, 22, hit 32 home runs in his first professional season, batting .305/.402/.567 with a .969 OPS across stops at Bradenton, Greensboro and Altoona. He finished the year with 143 hits, 97 RBIs and 66 walks.
The Pirates selected Gray in the Competitive Balance-B round of the 2025 draft out of Fresno State. While playing at Greensboro, he led the South Atlantic League in total bases and home runs before his promotion to Double-A Altoona.
Hernandez Reports Full Health After Oblique Strain
Hernandez, a 20-year-old right-hander, suffered a left oblique strain at High-A Greensboro in late July that shut him down for the remainder of the season. Before the injury, he posted a 2.43 ERA with a 118:31 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 74 innings split between Greensboro and Single-A Bradenton.
“I feel 100 percent healthy and have since the first or second week of September,” Hernandez said, according to CBS Sports. He will enter his offseason throwing program without restrictions and said his goal is to reach the majors in 2027, though that timeline is viewed as unlikely.
Where Each Prospect Stands In The System
Hernandez is ranked as the Pirates’ top overall prospect by MLB.com, which lists him at 6-foot-4, 190 pounds with a projected 2028 debut, according to MLB.com. Gray sits at No. 4 on that same list. Baseball America separately named Gray the Pirates’ top prospect for 2026.
Gray, listed at 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds, has the arm strength to handle third base but may lack the speed and first-step agility typically required at the position in the majors, according to Yahoo Sports. He carries a tendency to chase pitches outside the zone, though that rate decreased from his college season to his first full pro season in 2026. His projected debut is 2027.
What’s Next
Both players head into the offseason with clear development priorities. Hernandez will work through an unrestricted throwing program as he targets a return to full workload in 2027, while Gray will look to carry his power production into Double-A and beyond as he works toward his own 2027 projected debut.
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