Reasons for Pirates’ Fans to be Thankful

Finding joy in the Pittsburgh Pirates can be quite a difficult task at times.

The fan base has suffered through losing season after losing season and too many last-place finishes to count for more than three decades. Then of course, there is the disdain for ownership and the lack of spending.

After another last-place finish in 2024, many fans have seen their patience run out for both manager Derek Shelton and general manager Ben Cherington, but the duo remains in place.

But given the spirt of the upcoming holiday, let’s put all of that aside for just a moment. This Thanksgiving, what do Pirates’ fans have to be thankful for heading into 2025?

The first one is obvious. The Pirates have one of the best pitchers in baseball in Paul Skenes. The 22-year-old was recently named National League Rookie of the Year and finished third in the Cy Young race after a dominant first season in the big leagues.

Skenes had a historic rookie campaign that started less than a year after he was drafted with the first pick out of LSU. The big right-hander went 11-3 with a sparkling 1.96 ERA in 23 starts. He set the franchise rookie record for strikeouts in a season with 170 while opponents hit under the Mendoza Line against him.

Every Skenes start turned into a spectacle with fans from around the country tuning in to see a heavy dosage of power fastballs, a one-of-a-kind splinker and sharp breaking pitches.

Heading into next season, Skenes will be one of the favorites to win the National League Cy Young. No Pittsburgh Pirates’ pitcher has done that since Doug Drabek in 1990.

With Skenes sitting at the top, the Pirates looked poised to have a strong rotation next year. Skenes will be joined by fellow rookie Jared Jones, who had a not-too-shabby first season of his own in 2024. 2023 All-Star Mitch Keller will also be back in the fold, as will Bailey Falter and Luis Ortiz, both of whom showed promise while carving out significant roles for the first time.

There will be reinforcements, too. Johan Oviedo will be back after missing all of 2024 due to Tommy John surgery. Top prospect Bubba Chandler is one of a handful of minor-leaguers knocking on the door along with Braxton Ashcraft and Thomas Harrington.

The Pirates’ may not have a ton of thump in their lineup, but two-time All-Star Bryan Reynolds will remain in Pittsburgh for the foreseeable future and Oneil Cruz might put it all together and emerge as a serious threat as a full-time center fielder.

Then there’s Andrew McCutchen, assuming he comes back for another season as expected. The fan favorite is in the twilight of his career, but he’s still been productive and is a strong veteran presence in the clubhouse.

Though he’s not the same as he was when he won the 2013 National League MVP as a 26-year-old, McCutchen still has a purpose and fans still go wild when he’s introduced as he steps up to the plate.

McCutchen is the face of the Pirates’ in the 21st century. There hasn’t been a playoff game in Pittsburgh without him on the team since 1992.

Speaking of games in Pittsburgh, at the very least, Pirates’ fans get spoiled with one of, if not the best ballpark in America. Though the on-field product looks ugly at times, there’s no denying PNC Park and what’s described pregame over the speakers as “the most beautiful skyline in the world.”

So cheer up Pirates’ fans, at least temporarily during a time where we are supposed to think about what we’re thankful for instead of what we don’t have. Maybe 2025 will give reasons to add to the list.