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20250906, The Altoona Curve face the Richmond Flying Squirrels at Peoples Natural Gas Park in Altoona, Pennsylvania (Photos by Harrison Barden)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t20250906, The Altoona Curve face the Richmond Flying Squirrels at Peoples Natural Gas Park in Altoona, Pennsylvania (Photos by Harrison Barden)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Nothing gets you ready for baseball season quite like the first few cracks of the bat or pops of a catcher\u2019s mitt at spring training.<\/p>\n
The Pittsburgh Pirates reported to Bradenton on Wednesday for spring training and the start of the 2026 regular season is quickly approaching.<\/p>\n
As always, the Pirates can write some players who will be on the Opening Day roster in sharpie. But there are several questions who the final handful of spots will go to.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s take an early crack at projecting the Pirates\u2019 Opening Day roster.<\/p>\n
Catchers: Henry Davis, Joey Bart<\/p>\n
Unless Bart gets traded, this is the most logical scenario for the Pirates. Davis established himself as a quality defensive backstop and will be behind the plate for Paul Skenes for the opener against the New York Mets at Citi Field. <\/p>\n
Bart, meanwhile, was one of the Pirates\u2019 top hitters in 2024. Though his production slipped last season, he was again one of the team\u2019s top hitters in 2025\u2026 not that that\u2019s saying all that much. <\/p>\n
Endy Rodr\u00edguez, who is coming off a second elbow surgery and Rafael Flores, who doesn\u2019t have much experience at Triple-A, are probably better served starting the year in Indianapolis.<\/p>\n
Infielders: Nick Gonzales, Konnor Griffin, Spencer Horwitz, Brandon Lowe, Jared Triolo, Nick Yorke<\/p>\n
Lets\u2019 start with the biggest story. I\u2019m a little more skeptical of Griffin making the Opening Day roster than most, but he he performs well this spring, he will make it. Though it\u2019s truly a toss-up for me at best right now, I\u2019ll give him the edge over a depth piece like Enmanuel Valdez.<\/p>\n
Horwitz, the team\u2019s top hitter from a season ago, will start at first base most days, especially against righties. Lowe and his 31 home runs with the Rays last season will start at second base. If Griffin starts at shortstop, Triolo will slide in at third base and Gonzales and Yorke, the latter of whom can also play some outfield, will have bench roles.<\/p>\n
Outfielders: Oneil Cruz, Jake Mangum, Ryan O\u2019Hearn, Bryan Reynolds<\/p>\n
One thing is known for sure. Cruz will be in center. Who is to his left and right is still up in the air. We know Reynolds and O\u2019Hearn will start out there but which player is in left and which is in right is still TBD. The Pirates will be banking on bounce-back seasons from Reynolds and Cruz and for O\u2019Hearn to match last year\u2019s production after signing as a free agent.<\/p>\n
While there\u2019s enough upside offensively between the trio, the defense leaves a lot to be desired. Having Mangum, a strong defender, serve as fourth outfielder makes a lot of sense. Mangum will be competing with Jhostynxon Garc\u00eda and Jack Suwinski for a spot on the roster. If Suwinski fails to make the roster, he\u2019ll be removed from the 40-man roster and could end up with another team.<\/p>\n
Designated Hitter: Marcell Ozuna<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a little bit weird not typing Andrew McCutchen\u2019s name into this spot, but the Pirates went in a different direction in Ozuna. They still haven\u2019t officially announced the signing but I\u2019m expecting it to come on Monday when the full team reports to camp.<\/p>\n
Starting Pitchers: Braxton Ashcraft, Bubba Chandler, Mitch Keller, Paul Skenes, Jos\u00e9 Urquidy<\/p>\n
Skenes will look to defend his Cy Young in his third season with the Pirates after quickly establishing himself as one of the top pitchers in baseball. With him on the mound, the Pirates know they will be in position to win every fifth day.<\/p>\n
Keller has been solid over the last few seasons but will look to put two halves together and give the Pirates even more. Ashcraft and Chandler both did some impressive things with their first chance in the big leagues last season and are poised for larger roles. <\/p>\n
I\u2019m still expecting the Pirates to add another starter to the mix (though viable options are dwindling), but for now we\u2019ll have Urquidy round out the starting five.<\/p>\n
Bullpen: Justin Lawrence, Isaac Mattson, Carmen Mlodzinski, Mason Montgomery, Kyle Nicolas, Yohan Ram\u00edrez, Dennis Santana, Gregory Soto<\/p>\n
Santana has been one heck of a find by the Pirates and will be the team\u2019s primary closer after doing well in the role last season. Soto will handle high-leverage spots and will likely get some save chances against lefty-heavy lineups. <\/p>\n
There\u2019s again talk of Mlodzinski being stretched out as a starter and it\u2019s understandable, but let\u2019s put him in the bullpen for now, perhaps as a swingman. Mattson was a revelation last season. Lawrence was extremely effective when healthy. The Pirates think highly of Montgomery after acquiring him from the Rays.<\/p>\n
It seems like everyone else is competing for the final two spots. I\u2019ll give the nod to Nicolas and Ram\u00edrez over lefty Evan Sisk, right-hander Brandan Bidois and some other candidates including a few non-roster invitees. <\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMentioned in this article: Pittsburgh Pirates<\/a> <\/p>\n