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.
It’s arduous to imagine, however the twenty first century is almost one-quarter via. No flying automobiles but, meals isn’t in tablet type, and drugs aren’t in meals type, both. Swing and a miss for these Twentieth-century cartoons predicting our future.
What we do have is a quarter-century of Pirates baseball to replicate on. There have been highs and lows, but in addition greater than a handful of really nice gamers. At the moment, we’ll be having a look at 12 of the most effective, an All-Quarter Century group of Pittsburgh baseball within the 2000s.
Catcher: Russell MartinMartin solely spent two seasons in Pittsburgh, however he made one of many largest impacts in elevating the 2013 and ’14 Pirates groups into playoff golf equipment. He additionally hit essentially the most iconic residence run in PNC Park historical past, taking Johnny Cueto deep within the ’13 Nationwide League Wild Card Recreation.
Honorable mentions: Jason Kendall, Francisco Cervelli
First base: Craig WilsonJosh Bell was an All-Star and Garrett Jones hit extra residence runs than Wilson (100 vs. 94), however Wilson’s .486 slugging share, .846 OPS and 120 wRC+ are tops on the place since 2000. Not the deepest pool of gamers right here, however Wilson winds up on prime.
Honorable mentions: Bell, Jones
Second base: Neil WalkerThe Pittsburgh Child was one of many first core members of the 2013-15 playoff groups to crack the Majors, and he was a mannequin of consistency in his seven years in a Pirates uniform. The ’14 NL Silver Slugger Award winner hit 93 residence runs with the Bucs, second all-time amongst Pirates second basemen to Corridor of Famer Invoice Mazeroski.
Honorable mentions: Freddy Sanchez, Josh Harrison, Adam Frazier
Third base: Josh HarrisonThere’s a case to be made for a number of utility infielders and third basemen right here. Sanchez gained a batting title. Pedro Alvarez gained a house run crown. Ke’Bryan Hayes gained a Gold Glove. Harrison is the two-time All-Star, although, and he was a catalyst for previous decade’s playoff groups. He will get the nod.
Honorable mentions: Sanchez, Alvarez, Hayes
Shortstop: Jack WilsonWilson is without doubt one of the best defensive infielders in franchise historical past, and he picked up a Silver Slugger Award and an All-Star nod in 2004 with a 201-hit marketing campaign. He by no means gained a Gold Glove, a horrible oversight on condition that he was value 32 Defensive Runs Saved in ’05 alone.
Honorable mentions: Jordy Mercer, Jung Ho Kang
Left discipline: Starling MarteA two-time Gold Glove winner and 2016 All-Star, Marte was the second-best outfielder for many of his Pirates profession, however he was nonetheless probably the greatest at his place for years. He and Barry Bonds are the one two in franchise historical past with 100 residence runs and 200 stolen bases.
Honorable mentions: Bryan Reynolds, Jason Bay
Middle discipline: Andrew McCutchenThe best choose on this checklist. McCutchen is an All-Star, an MVP and a real Pittsburgher, and he deserves to be within the dialog for the best gamers within the franchise’s historical past.
Honorable mentions: Nate McLouth, Reynolds
Proper discipline: Brian GilesA two-time All-Star and one of many best energy hitters of the early 2000s, Giles hit at the least 35 residence runs every season from 1999-2002. His profession .591 slugging share and 1.018 OPS are the most effective in franchise historical past.
Honorable mentions: Jones, Gregory Polanco, Xavier Nady
Designated hitter: Bryan ReynoldsThe DH is in each leagues now, so we have now a chance to present one runner-up a spot within the beginning lineup. Whereas there’s a case to be made for Sanchez and Bay, Reynolds has been a mannequin of effectivity since he joined Pittsburgh, being the one switch-hitter in franchise historical past with 4 consecutive 20-homer seasons.
Honorable mentions: Bay, Alvarez
Proper-handed starter: Paul SkenesReally? Skenes? Not Gerrit Cole or A.J. Burnett, Batman himself? With respect to these two, they by no means had a season in Black and Gold like Skenes did in 2024. If you happen to get to select one Pirate from the final 25 years to begin a must-win recreation, how is it not Skenes?
Honorable mentions: Cole, Burnett
Left-handed starter: Francisco LirianoHey, it’s the man who gained that must-win recreation in 2013. Liriano’s seven-inning gem within the ’13 NL Wild Card Recreation might need been his peak as a Pirate, but it surely was removed from his solely gem, which included hanging out 205 in ’15.
Honorable mentions: Paul Maholm, Zach Duke
Nearer: Mark MelanconThe Pirates traded an All-Star in Joel Hanrahan to accumulate Melancon in December 2012, and it labored out splendidly. Melancon earned three journeys to the All-Star Recreation, gained the 2015 Trevor Hoffman Reliever of the Yr Award and racked up 130 saves with a 1.80 ERA over 4 seasons.
Honorable mentions: David Bednar, Tony Watson, Jason Grilli, Hanrahan
