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The sun is shining, birds are chirping and the Pirates are back in Bradenton for Spring Training. Spring ball for fans is the first glimpse into how their favorite ball club is going to look in the regular season, and there has already been several noteworthy developments for the Buccos.
The new look lineup looks great
The Pirates organization made it a point this offseason to improve their bottom dwelling offense and in just a week of games, it already looks like this lineup is transformed. So far the Pirates are 5-2 in Spring and have had a couple of contests with offensive barrages overpowering their competition. It’s not uncommon for hitters to be a step behind pitchers following the long winter away from the game, but for the Pirates, it has been the complete opposite.
Against the Boston Red Sox, the Buccos scored 16 runs, with three homers recorded. In their opener against the Baltimore Orioles, this transformed offense put up eight runs with Ryan O’Hearn and Endy Rodriguez both going deep. Then against Tampa Bay, the team put up seven runs, with the team currently averaging just over six runs scored in the seven contests that they’ve played.
Obviously it’s only Spring ball, but it is very encouraging to see an offense this hot already ahead of the regular season. While the lineup will still need some fine tuning for regular season competition, there is clearly a lot of fire power coming to PNC Park this season.
Konnor Griffin is turning heads and crushing baseballs
Konnor Griffin is the unanimous top prospect in baseball, and he is showing everyone why in a big way. In the team’s contest against Boston, Griffin had two huge home runs and is already looking like a Major Leaguer.
Since arriving in Pirate City, the talk of the town has been on if Griffin can make Pittsburgh’s opening day roster. All signs are pointing to yes, but more than that, it’s looking like the Mississippi native could be the next generational super star in Major League Baseball. Griffin is very much on the same trajectory as Barry Bonds, Bryce Harper, Juan Soto and Ken Griffey Jr. At just 19-years-old, he already plays, moves and operates like a Major Leaguer, and it may already be time for Pittsburgh to consider signing Griffin to a long term deal.
Griffin could finally be the piece the Pirates need to put them over the top and emerge as real contenders in the National League. We have to hope that Bob Nutting and company don’t screw this one up.
Fans should be excited about Pirates’ baseball again
I was talking to my father a couple of weeks ago, and he was telling me that he would really love to see Pittsburgh become a great baseball city again. There’s a lot of work that still needs to be done, but it really feels like the Pirates may finally be heading back in a good direction. They have to rid themselves of some nasty heritage that has in the last 30 years not been committed to winning, and currently hold the longest playoff drought in the NL.
The black cloud that follows Pittsburgh because of the sins committed by Nutting and management is something that fans and players are still constantly working through, but there is no doubt that this Pirates squad on paper is looking to be one of the best teams they’ve had in a decade. They signed big free-agents in the offseason, went out and made smart trades and of course have some of the best talent in baseball emerging as Paul Skenes, Bubba Chandler and Griffin are looking to change the reputation of Pittsburgh’s ball club.
It’s a long 162 game season that hasn’t even started yet, but there are shades already of a quality ball team. O’Hearn has said that this Pirates team reminds him of the Baltimore teams that he found success on. Don Kelly at the helm is reimagining the culture in the clubhouse and is willing to bring back alumni to help inspire the new generation of Buccos. The best time of the year is just getting started and fans should be excited to see their Pittsburgh Pirates in 2026.
What has stood out for yinz in Spring Training? Let us know in the comments!