Pirates Position Group Breakdown: One Glaring Hole Remains in Outfield

This is one in a series of breaking down the Pittsburgh Pirates position groups leading up to spring training. 

The good news is that the Pittsburgh Pirates have two-thirds of their outfield settled by two of their best hitters.

Bryan Reynolds is coming off of his second-career All-Star season in which he hit .275/.344/.477 with 29 doubles, 24 home runs and 88 RBIs. The team’s most consistent hitter, Reynolds again led the Pirates in a handful of offensive categories.

Reynolds is around for the long-haul after signing an extension two years ago. The Pirates have control of him through the 2030 season and can extend that control an additional year if they exercise a club option.

In center field, Oneil Cruz will be the guy after transitioning from shortstop late in the season. Despite having to learn a brand new position on the fly and a couple hiccups, Cruz passed the eye test and possesses the speed and arm strength to be a capable center fielder.

At the plate, Cruz has more upside than any other position player on the Pirates’ roster. Last season, Cruz hit .259 with a .773 OPS and was part of the 20/20 club with 21 home runs and 22 stolen bases. He also added 34 doubles and drove in 76 RBIs. With improved consistency and less strikeouts, there’s the potential for even more from the big 26-year-old.

Now for the bad news. The Pirates have no obvious solution in right field with pitchers and catchers set to report in exactly one week.

Right field was one of the Pirates’ biggest needs this offseason but there’s been nothing done to address it. With free agent options now limited, the club’s chances of landing an impact player at the position are dwindling.

If the Pirates go with an in-house solution, there are several players on the roster who would be in competition, though there are questions surrounding each one.

Joshua Palacios is one player who could be penciled into the lineup come Opening Day if no other move is made. His energy in the clubhouse is unmatched, but in 114 games with the Pirates across the last two seasons, he’s slashed .236/.291/.398 and carries an 86 OPS+.

Jack Suwinski is seemingly forgotten after an abysmal 2024 campaign but was one of the Pirates’ biggest offensive threats in 2023. That season, he led the team with 26 home runs and a .793 OPS. Maybe 2024 was a fluke season, but what if 2023 was the fluke?

The Pirates have a pair of prospects with upside who would also be part of a competition. Billy Cook appeared in 17 games to end the season last year and slugged three home runs but also had a miniscule .224 on-base percentage. He also flashed terrific defense with six defensive runs saved, including two DRS in four games in right.

Nick Yorke had a strong season in Triple-A last year and played 11 games with Pittsburgh in September. He slashed .216/.286/.378 with a pair of homers, five RBIs and two steals.

The speedy Ji Hwan Bae is yet another option but hasn’t shown much during his time in the big leagues. With a flux of catchers on the roster, Henry Davis or Endy Rodríguez are also potential players who could get reps in right.

But the list of candidates as a collective does not inspire much confidence. The fact that the Pirates haven’t done anything to address right field up to this point is shocking. There’s still time, but the clock is ticking.