If you're a Pittsburgh Pirates fan looking for a bright spot in the minor leagues, look no further than 18-year-old Edward Florentino. The club's No. 3 prospect is absolutely on fire at the plate, and he's quickly making a name for himself as one of the most exciting young hitters in the game.
Florentino, a Dominican product signed as an international free agent in 2024, is currently tearing it up with the High-A Greensboro Grasshoppers. Since joining the team on May 1, he has been unstoppable. In a recent series against the Greenville Drive, Florentino crushed home runs in back-to-back games—marking his third homer with Greensboro and his sixth of the season overall. That kind of power at just 19 years old is turning heads across the organization.
This fast start is nothing new for Florentino. He began his professional career in the Dominican Summer League as a 17-year-old before quickly climbing the ladder. After dominating in the Florida Complex League, he played 54 games with Low-A Bradenton last season. Now in 2026, he's showing he belongs at every level. He even earned a non-roster invite to Pirates big league Spring Training and represented the team in the Spring Breakout showcase.
Before his promotion to Greensboro, Florentino played just nine games with Bradenton this year—and what a nine games it was. He posted a blistering slash line of .321/.500/.750 with a 1.250 OPS and three home runs. Since joining the Grasshoppers, he hasn't slowed down, slashing .290/.303/.581 with three more homers, eight RBIs, and two stolen bases. Overall, across 16 games this season, Florentino is hitting .305 with 18 hits, 18 RBIs, and a .411 on-base percentage.
At just 18 years old, Edward Florentino is proving he's more than just a prospect—he's a future star in the making. For Pirates fans, this is the kind of young talent that makes following the farm system so exciting. Keep an eye on this kid; he's just getting started.
