Pirates’ newest award-winning prospect adds another twist to their crowded shortstop future

The Pittsburgh Pirates have named 18-year-old infielder Johan De Los Santos as their Rookie-Level Player of the Year following a strong 2026 campaign. De Los Santos batted .270 with 39 stolen bases and 27 walks across 52 games split between the Florida Complex League and Low-A Bradenton, elevating him to No. 11 in the organization's prospect rankings.

Emma Lingan of Rum Bunter argues that his emergence adds to an increasingly crowded shortstop pipeline alongside prospects Konnor Griffin, Wyatt Sanford, and Aiden Ruiz. With Griffin already reaching the majors, the writer suggests the Pirates may eventually face difficult roster decisions, including shifting infielders to other positions or using surplus depth as trade assets.