This story was excerpted from Alex Stumpf’s Pirates Beat publication. To learn the total publication, click on right here. And subscribe to get it repeatedly in your inbox.
MIAMI — One of many lovely issues concerning the Opening Sequence is it might probably encourage a number of the finest overreactions. Did somebody have two good video games on the plate? They’re about to have a monster season. Did a reliever quit a run? Sound the alarm.
Most of it, after all, is the product of the smallest of pattern sizes and shouldn’t be taken too significantly. However there are issues you’ll be able to glean from the primary couple video games of the 12 months. With that in thoughts, listed here are three takeaways from a 1-1 begin to the 2025 Pirates season.
The go-go Buccos might be funApril 2023 was one of the best ball the Pirates have performed within the Derek Shelton period, and the offense that month was outlined by aggressiveness on the basepaths. The Bucs could have flown too near the solar and ultimately bumped into too many outs, but it surely was a mode of play and tempo that stood out from the remainder of the league. Pittsburgh didn’t attempt to recreate that model of play in 2024, although, and the offense was total stagnant.
Two video games into this season, the Pirates are wanting like a supercharged model of that April 2023 group. They’ve stolen eight bases, essentially the most by way of two video games in a season in franchise historical past since at the very least 1900, per the Elias Sports activities Bureau.
There are many gamers who’ve the potential to swipe double-digit baggage, if no more, however Oneil Cruz may need the best ceiling. He has two steals this 12 months and was one of the crucial environment friendly basestealers within the recreation a 12 months in the past, changing 22 of 23 steal makes an attempt. If the inexperienced mild is on, who is aware of what number of further bases he can take.
“As quickly as I get to first base, for positive… I am simply gonna attempt to steal bases to attempt to put my group in a greater place to drive me in,” Cruz mentioned, through coach and interpreter Stephen Morales.
Will we see one of the best model of Keller?With all of the hype surrounding Paul Skenes and Jared Jones final 12 months, Mitch Keller appeared to fall into the background a bit. He’s a frontrunner of the employees and clubhouse, and he has an All-Star nod on his résumé, however Keller doesn’t get the eye a few of his rotation companions do.
He delivered a top quality begin in his first outing of 2025 and was ruthlessly efficient. His velocity was a tick or two decrease than normal, however he was finding and each pitch (apart from the cutter) was successfully utilized. Keller’s revamped changeup wasn’t good, however he confirmed how the pitch might be a greater instrument for getting lefties out than the cutter was final 12 months, getting extra ultimate motion and chew with it. Left-handed hitters gave him essentially the most hassle in his second-half hunch in 2024, and if he has a brand new instrument to get them out, that would assist him put collectively a full season.
“I feel I see some actually good outcomes when it’s over the plate and down,” Keller mentioned concerning the changeup. “So, that would be the focus subsequent day trip. However, total, I used to be fairly blissful about it.”
Rodríguez is a pure at firstFirst base was a query mark all spring with Spencer Horwitz on the shelf, and it was (partially) resolved when Endy Rodríguez gained the second catcher job. The Pirates wished him to know he’s a catcher in his first 12 months again from proper elbow surgical procedure, however as soon as they decided he was one of the best match for the Opening Day group, they pivoted to have him play first base, too.
Regardless of enjoying just one recreation at first base in Spring Coaching, Rodríguez has seemed good at his new place. Certain, he booted a ball on Opening Day, however he instantly cleaned up the error by snaring a double play. On Friday, he began one other double play and had a few spectacular stretches to get outs on bang-bang performs.
He’s nonetheless a catcher first, however he’s placing within the effort to contribute any method he can proper now. So is Horwitz, who was fielding floor balls with Rodríguez earlier than the sport Friday.
“I am feeling fairly good,” Rodríguez mentioned. “Clearly I haven’t got that a lot [practice] enjoying first base this 12 months, but it surely feels fairly good. Very pure.”
