Pirates Looking To Change The Narrative In 2024
Pirates fans have spent the past couple of decades in a bottomless pit of nothing. The best part about the team has been the beautiful park they play in, surrounded by the beautiful backdrop of the city.
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Most Pirates fans will never be optimistic about the team no matter what happens, and you can’t blame them for not wanting to be disappointed when things do go south. The Pirates have started to do things a little differently recently, and it feels like they are trying to change the narrative surrounding them sooner rather than later.
The biggest problem they’ve had over the past 20 years is very apparent. He is a lazy owner who doesn’t care to spend money to improve his ballclub. Bob Nutting is often more worried about how his pockets are being filled and not worried about the on-field product.
But that has changed slightly over the past handful of years. The Pirates have extended the contracts of some of the keystone pieces of the roster like Bryan Reynolds, Ke’Bryan Hayes, and Mitch Keller. Maybe change is on the horizon? Can we get a Oneil Cruz extension next, please?
Pirates Started Hot Last Season
In a surprise to everyone, the Pirates were competitive last season up until a point. For once the people of Pittsburgh could show up to the ballpark and maybe see some wins. Eventually, it went south, but it was fun while it lasted. Since then, the Pirates have made some additions that will hopefully give them some juice later into the season.
New Additions
The Pirates made a handful of free-agent signings in the offseason, including adding some starting pitchers. Pittsburgh brought in left-handed throwing pitchers Martin Perez and Marco Gonzalez who will hopefully give them some meaningful innings this season.
They also added a left-hander in the bullpen, a familiar foe now turned friend, Aroldis Chapman, the seven-time All-Star and two-time World Series Champ can hopefully focus less on posting odd Instagram stories and more on being David Bednar’s setup man.
In the field, the Pirates will look pretty similar. Trading Carlos Santana and Ji-Man Choi at the trade deadline last season left a hole at first base, which will now be filled by the former Milwaukee Brewer, Rowdy Tellez, a power-hitting left-hander. Tellez hit 13 home runs and drove in 47 runs last season with the Brewers.
The Pirates also recently signed Michael A. Taylor, a much-needed addition to the outfield. They already have guys like Bryan Reynolds, Jack Suwinski, Connor Joe, and Joshua Palacios, but another body couldn’t hurt out there. Taylor had a good season with the Twins last season, hitting 21 home runs and driving in 51 runs, stealing 13 bases.
Maybe the most anticipated new arrival in Pittsburgh, the number one overall pick out of the National Champion LSU Tigers, Paul Skenes will start the season in the minors, but Pirates fans can’t wait to see him in the big leagues. He might already be the best pitcher in the organization.
He’s got big league stuff and we’ve seen it in his first Spring Training. Skenes has appeared in two games, starting one. He’s only hurled three innings this spring, but he’s only given up three hits. He’s given up one home run, and that’s the only earned run he’s allowed. No walks, three strikeouts. We’ve only seen the kid in a very limited capacity, but we can’t wait until he’s finally on the grand stage.
Keystone Pieces
The Pirates will also return a bunch of guys who are key parts of the formula. Guys like Bryan Reynolds, Ke’Bryan Hayes, Oneil Cruz, Mitch Keller, and David Bednar among many others. The Pirates will go as those guys do.
Bryan Reynolds had a somewhat off year last year with a .263 batting average, hitting 24 home runs and driving in 84 runs. The Pirates will look for him to hold down that left-field spot.
Ke’Bryan Hayes is coming off a year that finally saw him steal the Gold Glove at third base from Nolan Arenado, who has had a monopoly on the award for the past decade-plus. Hayes also started hitting the ball well last season. If he continues that he is one of the best players in baseball. Absolutely lockdown at third base, he might not always get the recognition he deserves, but the kid can play and was well deserving of the contract the Pirates gave him. Last season, he hit 15 home runs, driving in 61 runs and upping his batting average to .271.
Oneil Cruz only got to play in nine games last season before his broken ankle on a play at home plate against the White Sox, but in those nine games, Cruz had one home run, four RBIs, three stolen bases, and a .250 batting average. His approach at the plate was looking much better than his rookie season and it’s shown this spring as Cruz has hit the cover off the ball. So far this spring, Cruz has looked like an MVP candidate in the National League, hitting seven home runs with 14 RBIs and a .324 batting average to go with a .919 SLG and a 1.324 OPS. The best Cruz in the NL Central.
Mitch Keller will likely be the Opening Day starter again and looks to build on a great 2023 season where he definitively became an ace in this league. In 2023, Keller had a record of 13-9, starting 32 games with an ERA of 4.21. He pitched 194.1 innings on the season, including one complete game shutout. He also had 210 strikeouts. On the opposite end of the pitching staff, David Bednar will look to continue to be one of the best closers in baseball. The Pittsburgh kid led the league in saves last season with 39. He’ll also be going for his third straight All-Star appearance.
Some Missing Pieces
Unfortunately, the Pirates will be without a couple of pieces that proved to be good for them last season Starting Pitcher Johan Oviedo and Catcher Endy Rodriguez. Both sustained injuries that will hold them out this season. Oviedo made 32 starts for the Pirates last season, leaving a big void in the starting rotation that needs to be filled. Rodriguez proved to be a good young gun in the organization as well, appearing in 57 games, he hit three home runs and had 13 RBIs, hitting .220 but being a burst of energy behind the plate. Just the kind of young, enthusiastic energy the Pirates need.
Luckily, the Pirates have another young catcher waiting in the wings Henry Davis. A former number-one overall pick out of Louisville has proved he can play at the highest level, appearing in 62 games last season, hitting seven home runs and driving in 24 runs. He hit .213 but has also seen improvement this spring where you can tell he bulked up. He appeared in 13 games, hitting four home runs and driving in 11 runs, for a .306 batting average.
Odds and Ends
The Pirates will still have guys like Jack Suwinski, Andrew McCutchen, Connor Joe, and Ji-Hwan Bae to fill in the cracks for them. They also have a ton of young talent just chomping at the bit to get their shot. Guys like Jared Triolo, Liover Peguero, and Nick Gonzales all have proved they can give the Pirates good innings. Pitchers like Jared Jones, Anthony Solometo, Quinn Priester, and Livvy Dunne’s boyfriend… I mean Paul Skenes are all eager to get their shot.
Pirates fans should be excited about what they are building over there at PNC Park. they have some big-time ball players in that clubhouse just waiting for their chance to shine on the brightest stage. Hopefully, we get to see the Pirates in the postseason sooner rather than later, the current state of Pittsburgh sports could use it.
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