BRADENTON, Fla. ¨C As we continue to inch toward Opening Day at loanDepot Park, let¡¯s take another shot at projecting what the Pirates¡¯ roster will look like. This is the Opening Day roster, version 2.0.
Catcher (2): Joey Bart, Henry Davis
Bart is a lock, but the second job is still up for grabs between Endy Rodr¨ªguez, Davis and Jason Delay. The Pirates want Rodr¨ªguez to focus on catching, so he¡¯s not an option at first base now, and he needs everyday at-bats in his first year back from elbow surgery. Davis is hitting the ball hard to all fields in camp, an encouraging sign.
First Baseman (1): DJ Stewart
Spencer Horwitz¡¯s wrist injury threw a wrench into plans, but he¡¯s already hitting off a tee and is trending back toward an early-season return. Stewart doesn¡¯t have a lot of experience at first base, but he¡¯s had good at-bats this spring and this is a way to get him on the roster and have some outfield depth when Horwitz returns.
Second Baseman (1): Nick Gonzales
Gonzales took a step forward offensively last season, and the Pirates will be counting on him to take another in 2025.
Shortstop (1): Isiah Kiner-Falefa
The Pirates are bullish on Kiner-Falefa as a defender and will primarily play him at shortstop, a position where he has been worth 28 defensive runs saved in just over 3,000 career innings (including three DRS last season).
Third Baseman (1): Ke'Bryan Hayes
Hayes has a new two-handed finish to his swing, something that he feels will be better for his back. Staying on the field is paramount this season, especially since he was a 4+ WAR player in 2022 and ¡®23. The Pirates could use that production again.
Outfielders (3): Bryan Reynolds, Oneil Cruz, Tommy Pham
The only change from the 1.0 version is we know Reynolds is going over to right field and Pham will man left. Pham¡¯s defensive numbers last season weren¡¯t great, but that¡¯s due in large part to his positioning. The White Sox played him deeper than he was used to, and when he played more shallow with the Royals in September, he posted some great defensive numbers (4 DRS, 3 Outs Above Average).
Designated Hitter (1): Andrew McCutchen
McCutchen is still a solid bat, and he¡¯s also a leader on this team, serving as a mentor to Cruz.
Bench (3): Adam Frazier, Jared Triolo, Jack Suwinski
Triolo, the reigning Gold Glove winner for utility men, would be a luxury for any bench. Frazier also can bounce around the infield, which opens up a spot (and need) for a fourth outfielder. Billy Cook (Pirates No. 18 prospect) is the best glove and Nick Yorke (No. 5) has upside as a hitter, and both can also play the infield and first base. But Suwinski has been taking some good swings this spring, can play all three outfield spots and has power potential, all things the Pirates can use.
Starting Pitchers (5): Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller, Jared Jones, Andrew Heaney, Bailey Falter
Johan Oviedo is going to get new imaging done on his right lat and surgically repaired elbow in late March/early April and will miss at least a chunk of this season. The team was in the market for a starting pitcher before Oviedo¡¯s injury, but the Heaney signing looks even better given Oviedo¡¯s setback. The Pirates have experimented using relievers Carmen Mlodzinski and Caleb Ferguson as starters/long relievers, but when you have a top three as electric as Skenes-Keller-Jones, you can divert more attention to rotation depth.
Relief Pitchers (8): David Bednar, Colin Holderman, Dennis Santana, Caleb Ferguson, Kyle Nicolas, Justin Lawrence, Tim Mayza, Ryan Borucki
The bullpen still has plenty of wild cards once you get past the leverage arms of Bednar, Holderman and Santana. Lawrence was a late addition but offers a unique arm angle and a plus pitch in the sweeper. Borucki came to camp with a clean bill of health and with a new splitter, both of which could be key for this season. Ferguson can pitch in a variety of roles, from opener to long reliever to lefty specialist to leverage arm. Nicolas has high upside, and Mayza has upside if he can regain his 2023 form.
There are also some 40-man arms that miss the cut here. Mlodzinski has Minor League options, so let¡¯s stash him as Triple-A depth until someone gets hurt. Chase Shugart has options, too. As for Joey Wentz and Peter Strzelecki, they have to make the team or be designated for assignment.