Hunter Barco

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19+13 innings in which he went 2-0 with a 1.40 ERA and 26 strikeouts before the remainder of the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [9] He spent that summer playing in the Texas Collegiate League for the Tulsa Drillers. [10] [11] In 2021, Barco started 16 games for the Gators and went 10-3 with a 4.01 ERA, 94 strikeouts, and 26 walks across 83 innings. [12] Following the season's end, he was selected to play for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team. [13] [14] Barco was named Florida's Opening Day starter for the 2022 season, striking out 11 batters over six innings in a 7-2 win over the Liberty Flames. [15] He was subsequently named the SEC Pitcher of the Week. [16] In mid-April, Barco was shut down indefinitely with elbow discomfort. [17] A few weeks later, it was announced that he would be undergoing Tommy John surgery and would miss the remainder of the season. [18] Over nine starts for the season, Barco went 5-2 with a 2.50 ERA, 69 strikeouts, and 11 walks over 50+13 innings. [19]

Professional career

Barco was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates with the 44th overall selection in the 2022 Major League Baseball draft. [20] He signed with the team for $1.5 million. [21]

Barco made his professional debut in the 2023 with the Rookie-league Florida Complex League Pirates. [22] He was later promoted to the Single-A Bradenton Marauders. [23] Over 18+13 innings pitched for the season, Barco went 0-2 with a 3.44 ERA and 28 strikeouts. [24]

Barco split the 2024 campaign between the High-A Greensboro Grasshoppers and Double-A Altoona Curve. In 18 games (16 starts) for the two affiliates, he accumulated a 4-2 record and 3.27 ERA with 83 strikeouts across 66 innings of work. Barco's season ended on July 28, after he suffered a stress fracture in his leg. [25] Barco was assigned to Altoona to open the 2025 season, and opened the season pitching 25+23 scoreless innings. [26] In early May, he was promoted to the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians. [27]

Personal life

Barco's father, Barry, was a placekicker for the Florida State Seminoles football team from 1983 through 1985. [28]

References

  1. Barney, Justin (February 29, 2020). "All-25 baseball: First-round draft picks, state champs headline this team". WJXT .
  2. "Bolles' Hunter Barco commits to Florida". WJXT . June 18, 2018.
  3. Ashby, Lexi (February 24, 2020). "Meet Hunter Barco: Former MLB recruit, now a UF pitcher". The Independent Florida Alligator.
  4. Barney, Justin. "Bolles pitcher Hunter Barco is just getting warmed up". The Florida Times-Union .
  5. Freeman, Clayton. "Best of the 2010s: Bolles' Hunter Barco heads All-Decade Baseball". The Florida Times-Union .
  6. Atkins, Andrew (May 25, 2018). "2018 Under Armour All-America Road to Wrigley – Hunter Barco". Baseball Factory.
  7. Pinak, Patrick (February 14, 2020). "UF's Hunter Barco is the Most-Hyped Freshman in College Baseball". FanBuzz.
  8. Barney, Justin (June 1, 2019). "MLB draft waiting game begins for Bolles star Hunter Barco". WJXT .
  9. Redman, Bob (February 12, 2021). "Barco adds more heat to fastball, looking to lead in 2021". 247Sports.com .
  10. Lewis, Barry (June 30, 2020). "Drillers update: Heralded Gators lefty Hunter Barco will pitch Wednesday". Tulsa World .
  11. "Hunter Barco Named Pitcher of the Week". MiLB.com . July 14, 2020.
  12. Zielinksi, Dan (November 1, 2021). "Hunter Barco: 'Best decision coming to Florida'". Baseball Prospect Journal.
  13. Goldkamp, Thomas (June 15, 2021). "Two Gators selected to play for USA Collegiate National Team". 247Sports.com .
  14. Lambert, Sara (June 15, 2021). "Two UF baseball players have been chosen for the USA National Team". WGFL .
  15. Pinson, Chris (February 18, 2022). "Barco, Thompson shine in Florida's season opening victory". WCJB-TV .
  16. Goldkamp, Thomas (February 21, 2022). "Hunter Barco named SEC Pitcher of the Week". 247Sports.com .
  17. Runder, Jacob (April 20, 2022). "Hunter Barco out with elbow discomfort". 247Sports.com .
  18. de la Torre, Nick (May 3, 2022). "Hunter Barco's season ends with Tommy John surgery". ON3.
  19. Runder, Jacob (May 3, 2022). "Hunter Barco to undergo Tommy John surgery". 247Sports.com .
  20. "Pirates Select Hunter Barco with the 44th Overall Pick". 18 July 2022.
  21. "Pirates 2022 Draft signings tracker". MLB.com .
  22. "Former college standout Hunter Barco impresses in MLB debut for the Pittsburgh Pirates". BVM Sports. 21 July 2023.
  23. "Pirates' Hunter Barco: Active at Single-A". 7 August 2023.
  24. "Down on the farm: Big week at the plate for ACD product Brian Navarreto as season enters its final days". 21 September 2023.
  25. "Pirates minor leaguer Hunter Barco pleased with progress in 2024". nbcsports.com. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  26. https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates/2025/05/03/top-prospects-barco-altoona-curve-mlb/stories/202504280135
  27. https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates/2025/05/05/pirates-minor-leagues-hunter-barco-bubba-chandler/stories/202504280147
  28. Dahn, Jeff (December 30, 2016). "No pitch, no problem for Barco". Perfect Game USA.
Hunter Barco
Pittsburgh Pirates
Pitcher
Born: (2000-12-15) December 15, 2000 (age 24)
Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Left