Pirates Claim Former Top Prospect Marco Luciano Off Giants’ Waivers

The Pittsburgh Pirates are taking a gamble on upside, claiming once-elite prospect Marco Luciano off waivers from the San Francisco Giants.

This move isn’t just about adding another name to the 40-man roster. It’s a classic small-market play for untapped potential, as Pittsburgh tries to squeeze value from a former top-15 global prospect whose star’s faded but not gone out completely.

Pirates Bet on Upside with Marco Luciano Waiver Claim

Claiming Luciano is a textbook example of how the Pirates have to operate these days. They find pedigree, accept risk, and hope their development staff can unlock something another club couldn’t.

Luciano joins Pittsburgh’s 40-man roster right away. The club sees him as an outfield-first option and a right-handed bat who could earn a bench role.

San Francisco tried to sneak Luciano through waivers for roster flexibility. They never officially designated him for assignment, but they clearly felt comfortable risking him to another team.

From Dominican Phenom to Waiver Wire Pickup

Luciano’s story started with a lot of hype. He originally signed out of the Dominican Republic and was one of the crown jewels of the Giants’ international program.

For five straight years, he landed on Baseball America’s top-100 prospect list, even peaking at No. 12 overall in 2020–21.

Back then, people saw him as a potential franchise cornerstone and a long-term shortstop. The tools were loud: big raw power, a strong arm, and the athleticism to stick on the left side of the infield.

Offensive Growth Stalls at Triple-A

Things started to go south once Luciano reached the upper minors. In Triple-A, playing in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, he managed just a .227/.351/.401 slash line over 1,017 plate appearances.

The on-base skills looked okay, but the power never fully showed up, and the contact issues became hard to ignore.

The strikeout rate says a lot. Luciano ran close to a 30% strikeout rate in Triple-A, and those problems only got worse against major league pitching.

Major League Results Haven’t Matched the Hype

When Luciano finally reached the big leagues, the production didn’t come close to matching the prospect hype. Between the 2023 and 2024 seasons, he hit just .217/.286/.304 over 126 plate appearances for the Giants.

Most concerning, his strikeout rate in that small big league sample shot up to 35.7%. That raises real questions about his hit tool and whether he can adjust to big-league pitching.

From Shortstop of the Future to Defensive Wanderer

There was a time when Luciano looked like the heir to Brandon Crawford at shortstop. That vision faded as the Giants made other moves and Luciano’s defensive profile shifted.

The signing of Willy Adames pretty much closed the door on Luciano as San Francisco’s everyday shortstop.

After that, his role became fluid. The Giants moved him around the diamond, giving him looks at:

By the time he hit waivers, Luciano was more of a bat-first project than a true middle infielder.

Roster Constraints Shape Pirates’ Plans

One of the most important parts of this move is procedural. Luciano is out of minor league options.

The Pirates can’t just send him to Triple-A to figure things out without exposing him to waivers again.

If Pittsburgh wants to keep Luciano, he basically has to earn a spot on the active roster or hope to sneak through waivers themselves at some point.

How Luciano Fits Into the Pirates’ Depth Chart

The Pirates view Luciano mostly as an outfielder and a right-handed bench bat heading into spring training. He’ll have to compete—nothing’s handed to him.

Internally, he’s seen more as a complementary piece than a foundational one right now.

He joins Jhostynxon Garcia as a depth option in the corners. While Luciano has the bigger name, Garcia’s probably the better bet to secure regular playing time based on current performance and projection.

High Risk, Modest Cost, Intriguing Reward

For Pittsburgh, the math feels pretty straightforward. Claiming Marco Luciano only costs them a 40-man roster spot.

But if he manages to recapture even a bit of his old prospect magic, the payoff could turn out to be huge. The Pirates aren’t chasing what he was—they’re curious about what he could still become.

If his hit tool improves even slightly, and that power he once flashed comes back, this waiver claim might look brilliant in hindsight. Maybe it’s the kind of quiet move other contenders end up regretting not making themselves.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Pirates Claim Former Top Prospect Marco Luciano