Gray, Hernandez headline Pirates' 2026 Minor League awards

The Pirates announced the last of their Minor League organization awards on Thursday, honoring eight players and one staff member for outstanding achievements in 2026. The awards are voted on by the baseball operations staff.

Honus Wagner Player of the Year: Murf Gray

Gray (Pirates' No. 4 prospect, No. 89 overall) broke out in his first professional season after getting selected in the Competitive Balance Round B (73rd overall) in the 2025 Draft out of Fresno State. He hit a combined .305 (143-for-469) with 27 doubles, 32 home runs, 97 RBIs, 66 walks, with a .402 on-base percentage and a .969 OPS in 126 games across Single-A Bradenton, High-A Greensboro and Double-A Altoona.

“I was super surprised and just proud of myself and proud of the process, because that's really what it took,” Gray said. “Just believing in myself, believing in the teammates and the people that the Pirates provide around the whole organization. But even more than that, just putting my trust in everything that goes into getting ready for that game. Although I was shocked and surprised, I was just thankful that throughout that process I learned that if I can stay goal-oriented, continue to trust that process, good things will happen.”

Bob Friend Pitcher of the Year: Seth Hernandez

Hernandez (Pirates' No. 1 prospect, No. 9 overall) went a combined 6-1 with a 2.43 ERA to go along with 118 strikeouts and a .181 batting average against in 18 starts between Bradenton and Greensboro. His first professional season ended with a left oblique injury in late July, but he’s felt 100% since early September and has lofty goals for 2027.

“My goal going into next year [is to] make it to the big leagues,” Hernandez said. “I'm just going to go one step at a time. Not going to think too far ahead, but that's definitely one of my goals.”

Bill Mazeroski Defender of the Year: Jesus Castillo

The 23-year-old Castillo played at seven positions (all but pitcher and catcher) in 100 games split between five levels. Castillo looked up to another slick defender from Venezuela, Freddy Galvis, growing up. He said his favorite position is the one that he's in the lineup that night.

“At some points I wanted to play any specific position, but it's no more,” Castillo said through interpreter Jose Corrales. “I know that I have the tools, I have the skills to do it, but it's more like the willingness to do it.”

Willie Stargell Slugger of the Year: Murf Gray

Gray picked up another honor by hitting 32 home runs in his first professional season, leading all Pittsburgh Minor Leaguers. Gray matched Chad Hermansen (1999), Jon Benick (2004) and Andrew Lambo (2013) for the fourth-most homers by a Pirates Minor Leaguer since 1999, trailing only Brad Eldred (38) in 2004, Mason Martin (35) in 2019 and Craig Wilson (33) in 2000.

Kent Tekulve Reliever of the Year: Derek Diamond

Diamond reached Triple-A Indianapolis for the first time in 2026, impressing with a 5-0 record and a 3.14 ERA in 29 games. He added a breaking ball and some velocity to his fastball, but the real change was a mentality shift based around meditating and looking at pitching as an art, drawing inspiration from Olympian Alysa Liu.

“I could certainly be a starting pitcher. I think that I could certainly be a long-release bullpen arm, and I think I could certainly be a closer,” Diamond said. “I'm not too concerned with that right now. I'm not as concerned with labels as I am with getting better at pitching.”

Omar Moreno Baserunner of the Year: Yordany De Los Santos

The older brother of Johan, De Los Santos (Pirates' No. 14 prospect) hit a combined .260 with 26 doubles, one triple, 19 home runs, 68 RBIs and 45 stolen bases between Bradenton and Greensboro. De Los Santos has swiped 96 bases over the past two seasons.

Rookie-level Pitcher of the Year: Irwin Ramirez

The 19-year-old out of Puerto Cabello, Venezuela, produced a 3.67 ERA over 27 innings in the Florida Complex League before a promotion to Bradenton. Ramirez said he’s focused heavily on his cutter to generate swing-and-miss.

“When he was signed and we first got to see this big projectable right-handed starter, you can just dream a little bit on it,” said Pirates farm director Michael Chernow. “We're still in that dream phase for him, but when you start to see him put it together in flashes like he did at different points this year, he has a chance to be a really special arm for us.”

Rookie-level Player of the Year: Johan De Los Santos

Johan De Los Santos is already the Pirates’ No. 11 prospect at just 18 years old. The left-handed-hitting infielder has primarily played shortstop and second base. He showed off his baserunning abilities with 39 stolen bases across two levels.

“That's the ability that God gave me,” Johan De Los Santos said through interpreter Juan Guerra. “I've been already working in the offseason on my explosiveness, agility, speed. I'm already working to be able to steal as many bases as possible next year.”

Staff Member of the Year: Cecilio Beltre

Beltre has been with the organization for 25 years, spending the last nine as a senior advisor/mentor in the Dominican Summer League.

“My first year with the Pirates in 2017, I was an intern in the Dominican Republic, and Cecilio was obviously there,” Chernow said. “The energy, the passion, the way that he upholds standards, the discipline that he demonstrated in 2017 -- that was something that I immediately recognized.”