As David Bednar began to discuss what Mike Burrows and Braxton Ashcraft have already been able to display in a short sample as major-league pitchers, he seemed blown away. 

The two had just combined to throw 7 1/3 scoreless innings in the Pirates' 3-0 win over the Astros at PNC Park, and a lasting impression was made on the two-time All-Star reliever. 

"In camp, you see the stuff and it's very much there," Bednar told me after tossing a scoreless ninth inning and picking up his seventh save of the season tonight. "Today, both of them went out there and they showcased it. They were in the zone, they attacked guys and they were going right after them. The first thing you've got to do when you come up is trust that you can compete with your stuff and have success. That was really cool to see them both go out there and shove."

Burrows and Ashcraft have combined for just seven career major-league appearances -- and three starts all made by the former. They've put together positive results, though, proving they belong in the big leagues and belong in the conversations surrounding the young pitching depth the Pirates possess within their system. Sure, the likes of Paul Skenes, Bubba Chandler, Thomas Harrington, Hunter Barco and a healthy Jared Jones deserve to be at the forefront of those conversations, but Burrows and Ashcraft are no afterthoughts. 

They proved that tonight. 

Burrows limited the Astros to five hits, didn't walk a batter and struck out a career-high six over 5 1/3 scoreless innings: 

Burrows threw 42 of 70 pitches for strikes and never threw more than 14 pitches in an inning. He was incredibly efficient in relying on a four-pitch arsenal that consisted of 27 fastballs, 19 changeups, 18 sliders and six curveballs. Burrows registered five outs with his slider and generated plenty of swing and miss with his changeup, picking up six whiffs with the pitch. 

The outing was without question Burrows' best in a Pirates uniform. He had allowed four or more runs in his previous two big-league starts, as he admittedly felt sped up at times. On this night, he actually found himself in trouble from the get-go, falling behind 3-0 against the first batter he faced in Jeremy Pena. He went on to strike out Pena and retire the first five batters he faced en route to a scoreless performance that showed why he's capable of more than just being the No. 15-ranked prospect in the Pirates organization, according to MLB Pipeline. 

"I think I came out with a little bit of adrenaline, got 3-0 on (Pena) and then settled in from there," Burrows said. "I think I overcomplicated the game in the first two outings. I just kept it simple and made the pitches and tried to get quick outs tonight."

Ashcraft helped preserve the shutout win by allowing a singular hit and striking out three over two scoreless innings in relief. The breaking ball was working for him, as he overcame a one-out single allowed to Jake Meyers by throwing a 1-2 slider past Cam Smith and freezing Jacob Melton with an 0-2 curveball: 

Ashcraft, the Pirates' No. 7-ranked prospect according to MLB Pipeline, has now made three appearances since being promoted from Class AAA Indianapolis on May 26. So far, the converted reliever has allowed three hits and a walk while striking out six batters over six scoreless innings in a Pirates uniform. 

"That's not an easy transition going from starting to just being in the pen, especially in the big leagues," Bednar said. "He's been able to handle that really well. He's trusting in his stuff and letting it eat." 

While it's a short sample size, Burrows and Ashcraft have shown what they're capable of at the highest level. They might not get the same attention as Skenes or Chandler, who is knocking on the door of the major leagues in his own right, but they're proving to be just as valuable as any of the other young pitchers coming through a system filled with talented arms. 

"This is the most fun I’ve ever had playing baseball," Ashcraft said. "This is a dream to be in the big leagues and to be able to do that with somebody you came up with, struggled with and succeeded with, and then to see the success at the highest level, it’s really fun.”