The Pittsburgh Pirates added organizational depth Thursday by signing 26-year-old outfielder Kyler Fedko to a minor-league contract, a move announced just before the club opens a three-game homestand against the Los Angeles Angels at PNC Park. The series begins Friday at 6:45 p.m. EDT.
Rich Walsh of KDKA-TV was the first to report the news.
Fedko, a Pennsylvania native, became available after the Minnesota Twins designated him for assignment earlier in the week and then released him.
Because he is recovering from season-ending ACL surgery, other clubs could not claim him off waivers. Several major-league organizations showed interest, yet Fedko chose to return home and sign with Pittsburgh.
He is the son of former Pittsburgh sports anchor John Fedko and will report to the Pirates’ facility in Bradenton to continue his rehabilitation.
The 2026 season gave Fedko his first look at the majors. Minnesota selected his contract in mid-June, and he remained on the active roster for roughly a month before being optioned to Triple-A St. Paul. He finished that brief stint 0-for-16.
The Twins originally drafted him in the 12th round of the 2021 draft out of the University of Connecticut.
Fedko’s minor-league production has been uneven but has shown real power. After a respectable High-A season in 2023, he posted a modest .646 OPS at Double-A in 2024. He bounced back sharply the following year, compiling an .854 OPS and 28 home runs in 130 games split between Double-A and Triple-A.
This season at Triple-A, he has slashed .274/.362/.545 with 17 homers in 75 games and has been especially productive against left-handed pitching, slashing .317/.430/.646 with six home runs in 82 at-bats.
The signing does not address Pittsburgh’s immediate needs. Fedko will miss the rest of 2026 while he recovers from knee surgery.
The Pirates sit at 69-72, five games out of the final National League Wild Card spot. They just took two of three from the San Francisco Giants at home and now turn their attention to the Angels.
For an organization still searching for consistent outfield production, adding a power-hitting prospect with local roots is a low-risk investment in future depth.
Fedko’s next step is simply to get healthy. If he does, Pittsburgh will have another bat to evaluate in 2027.
