The Pittsburgh Pirates just took a chance on a once-elite talent, grabbing former top prospect Marco Luciano off waivers from the San Francisco Giants. Luciano is only 24, but he arrives in Pittsburgh with a big reputation, loud tools, and plenty of questions about whether his bat and glove can finally match the hype.
His arrival lines up with the loss of outfielder Will Robertson, who the Orioles snagged on waivers. These moves shake up a Pirates roster that still has room—and honestly, a reason—to stay aggressive this winter.
Pirates Take a High-Upside Gamble on Marco Luciano
Luciano isn’t just another lottery ticket. The Dominican-born infielder once headlined the Giants’ future plans and looked like a cornerstone player in the making.
Now, he’s got a fresh start in Pittsburgh, and the Pirates have a low-cost shot at unlocking the talent that once made him one of baseball’s most buzzed-about prospects.
From Prize Signing to Top-15 Prospect
San Francisco signed Luciano out of the Dominican Republic for $2.6 million in 2018. He was billed as the shortstop of the future, maybe even Brandon Crawford’s heir.
His bat speed, raw power, and arm strength shot him up prospect lists in a hurry. MLB Pipeline ranked him as high as the No. 13 overall prospect in baseball before 2022, and he still sat at No. 39 before 2024.
Scouts saw a middle-of-the-order bat at a premium position. That was the draw, not just the hype.
Early MLB Cameos Showed Flashes, Not Consistency
Luciano made the majors at 21 in 2023—a bold move that showed how much the Giants believed in him. His first two seasons in the big leagues were brief, but you could see both the potential and the rough edges.
With the Giants, Luciano put up:
The power didn’t really show up in those stints, and the strikeouts were hard to miss. Given his age and limited at-bats, it feels way too soon to make up your mind about his big league future.
A Triple-A Power Surge with Red Flags Attached
By 2025, the Giants left Luciano in Triple-A Sacramento for a full season. They wanted real growth, not just another short-term look.
They also started trying him at a new position.
Position Switch to Left Field and Offensive Growing Pains
In Sacramento, the Giants moved Luciano from shortstop to left field. That said a lot about their concerns with his infield defense.
At the plate, he flashed the power scouts fell for, but the rest of the offensive package lagged behind.
His 2025 Triple-A numbers looked like this:
Big power, big swing-and-miss. For the Giants, that made him tough to keep on a crowded roster. For the Pirates, who can live with some chaos, it’s a shot at upside.
No Options Left: Luciano Must Stick or Slip Away
Luciano is now out of minor league options. The Pirates can’t just send him to Triple-A and wait.
If he doesn’t win—and keep—a big league job, he’ll hit waivers again, wide open for someone else to grab.
That urgency cuts both ways:
Will Robertson Claimed by Orioles as Roster Picture Shifts
Meanwhile, the Pirates lost outfielder Will Robertson, 27, on waivers to the Baltimore Orioles. Robertson’s game is nothing like Luciano’s, but losing him still matters for depth and planning.
Robertson’s Upside vs. Production Split
Pittsburgh picked up Robertson in October. He got a short look in the majors in 2025 and did much better in Triple-A.
His 2025 numbers:
Losing Robertson dings the Pirates’ upper-level outfield depth, but the team seems willing to trade that for a shot at Luciano’s higher ceiling and his ability to play more than one spot.
Roster Flexibility and the Rule 5 Draft Angle
After these moves, the Pirates have 39 players on their 40-man roster. That open spot isn’t a fluke; it gives them some real flexibility for the Rule 5 draft and whatever else the offseason brings.
This is a rebuilding team, still hunting for a few long-term building blocks. Luciano’s raw talent, the extra roster space, and the front office’s willingness to take a shot make this a pretty interesting low-risk move.
If the Pirates manage to tap into even a bit of the potential that once made him a top-15 prospect, this waiver claim might end up meaning a lot for both Luciano and Pittsburgh’s infield plans. Or maybe not—but there’s only one way to find out.
Here is the source article for this story: Pirates claim former top prospect Marco Luciano off waivers from Giants
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