Hunter Barco
Hunter Barco
Position: LHP
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 210 lbs
Bats/Throws: L/L
Born: 12/15/2000
College: University of Florida
How Acquired: Draft 2nd Round, 46th Overall, 2022
Bonus: $1,525,000
40-man Roster: No
Rule 5 Eligible: 2025
Minor League Free Agency: 2028
Options Left: 3
Overview
According to both MLB.com and Baseball America, Barco was a very highly ranked prep pitcher in the 2019 draft pool, but he had a strong commitment to Florida and fell to the 24th round. He quickly established himself in college, putting up a 1.40 ERA in 19.1 IP in the shortened 2020 season. He had a 3.81 ERA in 15 starts in 2021, with 94 strikeouts in 82.2 IP. In his junior year he was possibly pitching his way into the first round, with a 2.50 ERA in 50.1 IP. He fanned 69 and walked only 11. After nine starts, though, he was shut down and had Tommy John surgery in May. When healthy, Barco threw with a crossfire motion that may have contributed to the injury. His fastball got up to 95 mph, but mostly sat in the low-90s with good deception. He threw a slider that was a big swing-and-miss pitch and also an average, or possibly better, change. His control was good as well. BA ranked him 69th among draft prospects and MLB.com 75th. He signed for a little less than the $1,776,100 slot amount.
2022-24
After missing the 2022 season, Barco joined the FCL Pirates in late July. He got into three games there, then six more, totaling 10.2 IP, for Bradenton. His performance was variable, not surprisingly, but he struck out 19 and walked only four while with the Marauders.
Barco spent most of the 2024 season in the Greensboro rotation and established himself as one of the team’s top pitching prospects. He had a 3.34 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 3.2 BB/9 and 11.2 K/9. He was extremely hard on left-handed hitters, who had just a .489 OPS against him. Right-handed hitters managed just .639. Barco had a huge home/road split, much better on the road (for instance, a .230 opponents’ slugging average vs. .385 at home), so the Greensboro ballpark may have damaged his numbers. The Pirates moved him up to Altoona in late July and he made two appearances there, but missed the rest of the season with a knee injury that the team considers minor.
Stats
Transactions
June 5, 2019: Drafted by the New York Mets in the 24th round, 718th overall pick.
July 17, 2022: Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2nd round, 46th overall pick; signed on July 22.