Pirates Opening Day Roster Predictions 1.0 (+)
Baseball is officially back. Pittsburgh Pirates pitchers and catchers reported to Bradenton on Wednesday for the start of spring training.
Opening Day in Miami is next month — 43 days away, in fact.
There is still so much to unfold this spring between now and then. Starting with what will happen at first base in wake of the Spencer Horwitz injury news.
As things stand, here’s my initial roster prediction for what the Pirates’ roster will look like on Opening Day.
Catchers: Joey Bart, Endy RodrÃguez
Bart is assumed to be the Pirates’ starting catcher heading into 2025 after impressing during his first year in Pittsburgh last season. RodrÃguez, meanwhile, returns to action after last offseason’s Tommy John surgery.
Henry Davis and Jason Delay are the two other potential catching options this spring. The Pirates are in an interesting spot with Davis, who was taken with the top pick just three-and-a-half years ago but hasn’t shown much in the big leagues. Delay, though a solid reputation as a defender, is likely fourth on the depth chart.
Infielders: Billy Cook, Adam Frazier, Nick Gonzales, Ke’Bryan Hayes, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Jared Triolo
I’m including Cook with the infielders because with Horwitz out, he could see more time at first base, but he’ll play some outfield too. Triolo, who will be in a utility role again, could also get some reps there.
I have Gonzales as the starting second baseman, Kiner-Falefa as the starting shortstop and Hayes at the hot corner. Gonzales did enough last year to earn his spot on my initial predictions. If I was Ben Cherington, I would have tried to land an everyday shortstop this spring and have Kiner-Falefa bounce around, but here we are. Hayes, if healthy, will be back at third. Frazier gives them a left-handed utility option.
Outfielders: Oneil Cruz, Joshua Palacios, Tommy Pham, Bryan Reynolds
Cruz will get his first full season in center field after he was thrust into the role towards the end of last season. Reynolds, an All-Star last season, will be in left. I currently have a Palacios/Pham platoon-type situation in right. Palacios has the initial edge over Jack Suwinski because he is out of minor-league options, but the latter could win a spot with a strong spring.
Designated hitter: Andrew McCutchen
This one needs no further explanation.
Starting rotation: Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller, Jared Jones, Bailey Falter, Johan Oviedo
Skenes, already one of the top starting pitchers in the game, headlines what looks like it will be the team’s strength this coming year. He’ll be followed by three main components of the Pirates’ rotation last year in Keller, Jones and Falter. Oviedo returns from Tommy John surgery after missing all of 2025.
Bullpen: David Bednar, Colin Holderman, Caleb Ferguson, Tim Mayza, Carmen Mlodzinski, Kyle Nicolas, Dennis Santana, Peter Strzelecki
There are quite a few storylines to follow this spring regarding the bullpen. Will David Bednar reestablish himself as closer? Will the entire group bounce back after a disappointing 2024?
Additionally, based off this projection, there will be three new faces in Ferguson, Mayza, and Strzelecki. All three were acquired this offseason.
Overall thoughts
To be perfectly frank, this roster doesn’t look like it’s playoff-caliber. The offseason, which was already underwhelming, looks even worse as the most interesting pickup in Horwitz is injured.
If the Pirates surprise and make a push, the starting rotation will have to be as good as expected, the bullpen will need to bounce back in a major way, and a player or two in the lineup will have to have a breakout season. That’s a lot of if’s.
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