seth hernandez is set for a high-profile spring assignment after the Pittsburgh Pirates announced he will start their annual Spring Breakout Game. The matchup is scheduled for March 20 at 7: 35 p. m. ET at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida, with the Pirates facing the Detroit Tigers. The move places one of the organization’s most-watched arms into a prospects-only showcase designed to spotlight the future of the sport.
Spring Breakout start confirmed for Seth Hernandez
The Pirates revealed that right-handed pitcher seth hernandez will take the ball as the starting pitcher in the Spring Breakout Game. The event is built around top prospects playing head-to-head, and the Pirates are positioning a premier arm at the center of their roster for the night game at LECOM Park.
Within the Pirates’ Spring Breakout roster, seth hernandez is identified as the club’s top rated pitching prospect, and he is listed as the second-highest ranked pitcher in the Pirates’ system behind right-handed pitcher Bubba Chandler. He also holds broader recognition as a top pitching prospect, carrying rankings of 29th on MLB Pipeline, 38th on Baseball America, and 49th on.
Fans looking for a first extended look at the right-hander will get it in a prominent setting, with MLB Network set to broadcast the game.
Why the Pirates are putting him on this stage
The Pirates selected seth hernandez with the sixth overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft out of Corona High School in Corona, California. The Spring Breakout start becomes a key public checkpoint for a pitcher described as having the makings of a future ace, not simply a highly drafted name.
His fastball reaches 100 mph, and his changeup is noted for strong movement while reaching near the high-80s mph. He also features two other offspeed pitches—slider and curveball—tools he will get the chance to develop more in 2026.
That combination of velocity, movement, and multiple offspeed options helps explain why the Pirates chose this moment to elevate him into a showcase built to highlight what’s coming next for each organization.
Immediate reactions from inside the organization
Pirates catcher Rafael Flores Jr. offered a blunt assessment of what it is like to work with seth hernandez, speaking at PiratesFest after spending time with him in the offseason.
“Gross, ” Flores said at PiratesFest. “19 year olds should not be throwing 100 and he is, so. That goes to show how hard he works. I worked with him in the offseason, so I’ve seen him work and he pushes me, I push him. So he’s going to be a really good pitcher. ”
Flores also pointed to command and confidence as key markers for why seth hernandez stands out at 19.
“He can throw wherever he wants, ” Flores said. “The heater, changeup, curveball, slider, everything, he can throw where he wants. And for him being 19 only, being able to do that is insane. ”
Quick context: the track record that built the hype
At Corona High School, seth hernandez dominated over his final two years after being homeschooled his first two seasons. As a junior in 2024, he went 9-0 with a 0. 62 ERA over 56 innings, striking out 73 while also batting. 350 with eight home runs and a 1. 080 OPS.
As a senior in 2025, he recorded 105 strikeouts over 53. 2 innings with a 0. 39 ERA. His high school performance earned him 2025 Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year honors.
What’s next after the Spring Breakout spotlight
The organization is expected to keep seth hernandez low in the minor leagues to start 2026, with the path to climb tied to performance. For now, the immediate focus turns to March 20 at 7: 35 p. m. ET in Bradenton, where seth hernandez will face the Tigers in a game designed to measure, in real time, which prospects look ready for bigger stages.
