This story was excerpted from Alex Stumpf’s Pirates Beat e-newsletter. To learn the total e-newsletter, click on right here. And subscribe to get it commonly in your inbox.
By the point you’re studying this, Pirates camp could have opened and pitchers and catchers could have kicked off the 2025 marketing campaign.
Because the Pirates put together for one more flip in Bradenton, Fla., let’s check out three storylines value following this February and March.
1. Is that this rotation as much as job?There’s no approach round it: The one approach this Pirates group can compete this 12 months is that if their beginning pitching is pretty much as good as they consider it’s.
The rotation has as a lot potential as any group in baseball. The world is able to see what Paul Skenes’ encore will probably be. Mitch Keller was an All-Star in 2023 and had a robust case to be one in ’24. Jared Jones is electrical. Johan Oviedo is again from Tommy John surgical procedure. Bailey Falter is coming off a robust marketing campaign, and there are many pitching prospects who’re on the precipice of the Majors, like Bubba Chandler (the Pirates’ No. 1 prospect, per MLB Pipeline), Braxton Ashcraft (No. 4), Thomas Harrington (No. 5) and Mike Burrows (No. 15). The Pirates have each high quality and amount with their rotation.
If there’s one knock on the group, it’s that there isn’t a lot expertise. Except for Keller, everybody else is a prospect or coming off their first full Main League season. A sophomore droop or damage may throw plans off.
A wholesome, productive spring is the best-case situation right here to attempt to set the Pirates up for the season. Seeing Oviedo toe the rubber for the primary time since 2023 will probably be a bonus.
2. How is Ke’Bryan Hayes’ again?It appeared like Hayes lastly had his breakout season in 2023, profitable his first Gold Glove and posting strong offensive numbers. Accidents derailed his probability to construct on that marketing campaign in 2024, and he completed with a career-worst .573 OPS in 96 video games performed.
Again accidents are difficult and might linger, although each Hayes and the group expressed optimism on the finish of final season {that a} completely different relaxation and rehab plan may assist hold him on the sector. Time will inform if it’s sustainable for a full season, however Spring Coaching is a primary probability to see how Hayes is swinging the bat and shifting within the subject.
The Pirates made a wager on Hayes in 2022 by signing him to what was, on the time, the most important contract in franchise historical past (Bryan Reynolds’ and Keller’s extensions the final two years have since surpassed it). A Gold Glove third baseman can be an impressive technique to assist this beginning rotation, and Hayes has the offensive potential to elongate the lineup and provides this group one other much-needed influence right-handed hitter. It’s very potential if his again doesn’t get cranky once more.
3. What’s taking place behind the plate?Joey Bart emerged as one of many Pirates’ prime hitters final season and could have an inside monitor for the beginning catcher job. Even when one of many two catcher spots is kind of spoken for, there’s nonetheless loads of intrigue right here.
Henry Davis and Endy Rodríguez had been prime 100 prospects two years in the past and seemed to be the longer term for the place. Rodríguez is coming off elbow surgical procedure and Davis struggled within the Majors final 12 months. It’s approach too quickly to put in writing both participant off in the event that they don’t earn an Opening Day roster spot, however this can be a huge 12 months for each, and the Majors are the final word proving floor.
So what’s the association? Is Bart the beginning catcher outright? Do the Pirates need to have a 1A-1B state of affairs? Is there sufficient taking part in time for Davis or Rodríguez to develop if Bart is the starter? Might Jason Delay issue into this combine? He’s a strong defensive catcher and calls a terrific sport, and loads of groups can be blissful to have him as their backup. This storyline is most certainly going to proceed into the common season, however a quick begin in Florida may solely be an excellent factor.
