Pirates Name Rookie-Level Award Winners

The Pittsburgh Pirates have honored two standout prospects and a long-time staff member for their recent organizational contributions.

Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Baseball

Expressive sports illustration of a baseball player in black and gold jersey mid-swing, representing minor league development success. — The Pittsburgh Pirates honored rookie-level prospects Irwin Ramírez and Johan De Los Santos along with a long-serving staffer for yearly achievements. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Pittsburgh Pirates announced their Rookie-Level Pitcher and Player of the Year awards to recognize top performers within the minor league system. The organization also named a veteran staff member of the year to celebrate 25 years of service.

Why it matters

Recognizing minor league talent helps the organization track development progress and build depth within its farm system. These internal awards highlight the prospects expected to contribute to the major league roster in future seasons.

Johan De Los Santos posted an .865 OPS and 26 stolen bases in 31 games in the Florida Complex League. Irwin Ramírez recorded a 3.67 ERA over 27 innings at the same level before his promotion to Bradenton.

The players

Irwin Ramírez

He is a pitcher who earned the Rookie-Level Pitcher of the Year award after spending time in both the Florida Complex League and Single-A Bradenton.

Johan De Los Santos

He is an outfielder who received the Rookie-Level Player of the Year honor following a high-production season in the Florida Complex League.

Cecilio Beltre

He was named Staff Member of the Year after completing 25 years of tenure within the Pittsburgh Pirates organization.

The details

Irwin Ramírez signed with the franchise in 2024 for a $395,000 bonus, while Johan De Los Santos joined in 2025 with a $2.25 million signing bonus. Recipients were selected based on performance metrics and internal development data gathered throughout the season.

2024: Irwin Ramírez signed with the Pirates.
2025: Johan De Los Santos signed with the Pirates.
June 23, 2026: Irwin Ramírez was promoted to Single-A Bradenton.
October 21, 2026: The Pirates will announce three additional minor league awards.
October 22, 2026: The Pirates will announce the final two minor league awards.

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Season Trajectory

These awards serve as a precursor to the final organizational honors that help define the future roster outlook. The selections reflect the current development priorities as the team prepares to announce additional accolades over the coming days.

These awards provide fans with a concrete indicator of which prospects are currently leading the organization in development metrics. The status of these young players directly influences future roster decisions and the team's long-term competitive window.

The takeaway

Internal recognition programs provide a clearer picture of which minor league players are currently outperforming expectations. Fans should track these upcoming award announcements to see which prospects the front office views as the future core of the roster.

What happens next

The Pirates are scheduled to announce the Willie Stargell Slugger of the Year, Kent Tekulve Reliever of the Year, and Bill Mazeroski Defender of the Year on Oct. 21, 2026. They will conclude the awards announcements on Oct. 22, 2026, with the naming of the Honus Wagner Player of the Year and Bob Friend Pitcher of the Year.