Over the past four months, the Pirates have seen Wilber Dotel and Antwone Kelly make their big-league debuts. Now, another notable prospect is poised to do so, as right-hander Khristian Curtis was called up on July 18.
A Look at Curtis
Pirates pitching prospect Khristian Curtis posted an ERA north of 7.00 in his junior season with Arizona State, where he pitched in 2023 after transferring from Texas A&M. Pittsburgh grabbed him in the 12th round that year, and he’s steadily risen up the ranks since being selected.
After 18 outings with Low-A Bradenton in 2024, Curtis was one of the better pitchers in the South Atlantic League last season. The right-hander struck out 116 over 108 innings, posted a Whiff% north of 30% with Greensboro, and jumped up to Double-A at the end of 2025.
Curtis began 2026 with the Curve and yet again put up impressive numbers. While he had a 4.73 ERA (ERA is really not the best indicator of Minor League success), he struck out 67 over 53 innings, and opposing batters hit just .215 off him. He moved up to Triple-A in early June.
The walk has jumped on Curtis, somewhat over his time between Double-A and Triple-A this season. After he posted a 3.7 BB/9 last season, his walk rate went up to 4.8, roughly around where it was in 2024. However, 15 of his 40 walks came in 21 innings of action with the Indianapolis Indians.
Mid-90s fastball that topped out at 99 MPH for Curtis this season. As shown above, it has good life and is the type of fastball that works well up in the zone. High carry to it. Curtis didn’t net a ton of swing-and-miss off it (20% Whiff%) in Triple-A but it does set up the rest of his arsenal.
However, it did get pieced up (30% Barrel%) in his brief time with the Indians.
The big swing-and-miss pitch in his arsenal is the changeup, which has a consistent profile to it, has some run and sink, and differs off the fastball anywhere from 10 to 12 MPH. It’s a devastating combo that resulted in a 46% Whiff% with Indianapolis.
He can also get swing-and-miss off his cutter and slider, too. And, he’ll use four pitchers regularly, with the curveball being an offering that hitters don’t see too much from the right-hander.
The Pirates selected Khristian Curtis’ contract from Triple-A Indianapolis.
Analysis
Curtis was promoted on the same day that the Pirates were scheduled to contest a doubleheader against the Guardians. It was necessitated by a postponement in Cleveland thanks to poor air quality.
Aside from what happens after the 18th, Curtis may very well go back to Triple-A and stay there unless an injury arises. Right now, the Pirates do have a full rotation, as Braxton Ashcraft, Paul Skenes, Jared Jones, Mitch Keller, and Bubba Chandler comprise a full rotation at the moment.
But nonetheless, the Pirates get a fresh arm for now and take care of some business that needed to be attended to later on. Curtis would have been eligible for the 2026 Rule 5 Draft had he not been added to the 40-man roster before mid-November.
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