Originally signed as a teenager from his native Dominican Republic, the now 24-year-old Luciano spent five consecutive seasons among Baseball America’s top-100 prospects, finishing at No. 12 in the 2020-2021 offseason. He was a steady producer for much of his time in the low minors, but Luciano’s bat has stalled in Triple-A and strikeouts have become a major problem.
In 226 games (1,017 plate appearances) at the Triple-A level, Luciano has managed just a .227/.351/.401 batting line – despite those plate appearances taking place in an exorbitantly hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League environment. He also scored a whopping 29.6% of the time in Triple-A, including a 30.6% clip this past season. He fared no better in brief Major League appearances, hitting a combined .217/.286/.304 with a 35.7% strikeout rate in 126 plate appearances between the 2023 and 2024 seasons. He spent all of 2025 in Triple-A.
Luciano was at one point considered the potential shortstop of the future in San Francisco – an heir apparent to the old shortstop Brandon Crawford. The Giants started to move away from that option in 2024 when they got Luciano at second base for some time in Triple-A. Signed last offseason Willy Adames After a seven-year contract, the plug was officially pulled in the hope that Luciano could eventually claim that spot. The Giants gave him one Triple-A game at first base in 2025 and played him exclusively as a left fielder or design hitter.
Luciano is out of minor league options, so the Pirates won’t be able to send him to Triple-A without first putting him through waivers themselves. If he makes it through spring training on the 40-man roster, he will have a chance to claim a bench role in Pittsburgh if he can put in a strong performance in Grapefruit League play.
The Pirates have no set options at shortstop, second base or left field, so Luciano could theoretically compete for playing time at any of those spots — although Pittsburgh’s press release announcing the move referred to him exclusively as an outfielder. He will join newly acquired Jhostynxon Garcia as a right-swinging corner in the outfield on the depth chart, although Garcia has a much better chance of winning regular playing time.
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