Seth Hernandez, Edward Florentino selected for MLB All-Star Futures Game

PHILADELPHIA — The MLB All-Star Futures Game has been a fun and impressive showcase for recent Pirates prospects, key pieces of the current big league team such as Konnor Griffin, Esmerlyn Valdez and Bubba Chandler.

Seth Hernandez and Edward Florentino will get their turn on Sunday, July 12 at Citizens Bank Park, as both were announced as participants representing the Pirates on Wednesday morning.

Hernandez is the headliner, as he’s considered the seventh-ranked prospect on MLB Pipeline’s updated top-100 list released Tuesday.

“It means a lot,” Hernandez said. “Everybody’s goal is to be in the big leagues one day. The fact that Konnor and Esmerlyn were able to do that, me and ‘Flo’ wanna be the next up.”

“It will be really fun to see the environment, the game, the best of the best,” Florentino said. “We’re so competitive. We’ll have fun.”

Hernandez, a right-hander drafted sixth overall in 2025, became the first Minor League pitcher to reach 100 strikeouts last week and has gone 6-1 with a 2.02 ERA in 14 starts (62 1/3 innings) in Low-A and High-A combined.

While ranking second in Minor League Baseball in strikeouts (100), nobody has produced a better batting average against than Hernandez (.159), who throws four pitches and has the ability to flash triple-digit velocity.

The Pirates promoted Hernandez to Greensboro on May 12, and he’s had a little bit of an adjustment process. But over his past three starts, it’s been the expected dominance out of Hernandez, who turned 20 on Sunday.

Appearing on the Pirates Insider Show this past Sunday, Ben Cherington said the Pirates identified some changes to the timing of Hernandez’s delivery the general manager described as “slippage.”

It seemingly took Hernandez no time at all to get back on track.

Over his past three starts, Hernandez has allowed just one earned run in 12 2/3 innings, walking six and striking out 17.

“It’s been good for me to be able to come to Greensboro,” Hernandez said. “It’s known as a hitters’ ballpark. I’ve been able to come here and fail a little bit. I think it’s been good for me.”

I chatted with Hernandez in early May about his dominant season, and he joked he was simply trying to get off the LECOM Park mound as quickly as possible due to the heat. He also talked about what a weapon his changeup has become and how the entire year has offered plenty of development opportunities.

“The experiences and relationships you create [in the Minor Leagues], I never want to take those for granted,” Hernandez said. “Being here in Greensboro has been a blessing, to be around so many great players and such great talent.

“Everyone on our team is just so humble. It’s amazing to come to the field every day. All the coaches are amazing. I just want to be present and not take any day for granted.

In a similar vein, Florentino hasn’t produced the same gaudy numbers since moving up to High-A, but he’s still a highly regarded prospect, ranked No. 32 in MLB Pipeline’s most recent list.

Signed out of Los Alcarrizos, Dominican Republic for $395,000 in 2024, Florentino is hitting .230 with an .807 OPS in 53 games for the Grasshoppers and Marauders (for a rehab assignment). He’s collected seven doubles, a triple, 10 home runs, 38 RBIs, 42 walks and 46 runs scored.

A 6-foot-3, 200-pound outfielder who bats left-handed, Florentino has been excellent against right-handed pitching (.851) but has struggled when facing southpaws (.604 OPS). Nevertheless, the 19-year-old is simply in the thick of his development and will have the chance to showcase his skills on a large stage.

The Pirates’ Rookie Level Player of the Year in 2025, Florentino split 83 games between the FCL Pirates and Low-A Bradenton, hitting .290 with a .948 OPS that includes 23 doubles, two triples, 16 home runs and 35 stolen bases.

“Sometimes we concentrate more on results instead of the process,” Florentino said. “When you enjoy the process, it’s better to find a way to fix something or how you can grow up in the next level or the next year.”

Neither Hernandez nor Florentino has been to Philadelphia. Hernandez joked that a cheesesteak was on his to-do list, and they’re both excited to experience the Major League environment.

Pirates director of coaching and player development Michael Chernow was also on Wednesday afternoon call and talked about the pleasures and challenges of having players like Hernandez and Florentino in the system.

For Hernandez, the Pirates have been continuously impressed with his stuff and ability to make adjustments quickly. The only real concern has been his workload and adjusting to quickly from high school to his first season of professional baseball.

“Certainly from the amateur draft process, our scouts did a fantastic job identifying the type of pitcher Seth is,” Chernow said. “But in this year or so getting to know him, it’s been amazing to see the type of worker he is, the type of teammate he is and the leader he is growing into. What a joy it is to watch him compete.

“Both of these two young men have done a fantastic job in terms of growing into the players that they ultimately are going to become.”

Chernow also recalled a conversation he had recently with Florentino before a game in Rome, N.Y. The outfielder was telling Chernow everything he’s been working on and how good he felt about the improvements he’s been making.

It’s different being the focal point of the offense, Chernow explained, discussing Florentino’s development at Greensboro.

Teams are pitching Florentino carefully, while he’s also been aggressively working through several adjustments. But above all, Chernow has been impressed with Florentino’s commitment to his process and getting better.

“Both of these two guys have shown a ton of growth, but I’d like to just take a second and talk about how impressive it is that Edward Florentino is doing this interview fully in English,” Chernow said. “When you talk about growth for a 19-year-old kid from the Dominican Republic, to speak confidently in his answers, it speaks to his character. It speaks to the worker because he put in work to be able to do that.

“Taking that same mindset, the way that he attacks everything from a workday perspective … just really impressed with who he’s becoming as he grows into a man.”

Jason Mackey: Jason.Mackey@pirates.com and @JMackey_PGH on X.