PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – There seems to be as much hope as we’ve seen for the Pirates in years. Saturday at the convention center is the annual Piratesfest with the team reporting to Florida in a couple of weeks. So, what has changed with the team since last year.
New additions
· There is a new second baseman (Brandon Lowe), designated hitter/first baseman (Ryan O’Hearn) and left fielder (Jake Mangum). Outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia is a top 100 prospect and could compete to make the roster out of Spring Training.
· The Bucs added 42 more home runs from the left side and the WAR with the three new additions goes from 7.1 to 11.4.
· Steelers add veteran left-handed reliever Gregory Soto (4.18 ERA, 70 strikeouts, 24 walks in 60.1 innings in 2025) and lefty Mason Montgomery (5.67 ERA, 1.65 WHIP in 2025), who has transitioned to the bullpen and throws 100 miles-an-hour. They also get right-handed reliever Justin Lawrence (0.51 ERA, 0.96 WHIP in 17 games in 2025) back from injury
More needed
These are not the words of fans who recognize their lineup still is missing some pieces, it’s the words of Pirates general manager Ben Cherington who said he will continue to pursue bats.
“We'd like to add another, let's say proven bat somewhere on the roster whether that's outfield, whether that's corner infield or whether that's DH,” Cherington said last month. “Not sure. I think we just got to keep working it and pursuing all the angles.”
Look for the Pirates to add a veteran starting pitcher before camp begins—Zac Gallen, Patrick Corbin, Miles Mikolas, Lucas Giolito, Jose Quintana are among those still available.
Prospect watch
· Garcia might be the most major-league ready with 41 doubles and 44 home runs in the last two seasons in the minors.
The 23-year-old also has above-average speed and a strong arm in the outfield.
· Konnor Griffin is the top prospect in all of baseball. Just 19, Griffin started in Low A Bradenton and as he excelled, he kept moving up. The shortstop who can also play center played in 122 games with 23 doubles, 4 triples, 21 home runs, 94 RBI with a .333 average, .415 on-base percentage, .942 OPS with 65 stolen bases. Likely he will start in AAA, but assuming he remains healthy, Griffin will be a part of the Pirates this year.
· LHP Hunter Barco is 25 and 6’4”, 235 pounds with a plus slider. In 27 games, 4-1, 2.81 ERA with 116 strikeouts and 49 walks in 99.1 innings. The average against was .196 and the WHIP was 1.20. Likely will compete for a rotation spot in February and March
· INF Termarr Johnson-the Pirates first-round pick in 2022, the left-handed hitter is still only 21-years-old. He hit .364 with a .543 on-base percentage in 12 games in September in AA and overall .272 with a .363 on-base percentage with 15 doubles and 9 home runs.
· C/1B Rafael Flores was acquired from the Yankees at the trade deadline and in the minors last year hit .280, .354 on-base percentage, .825 OPS with 27 doubles, 22 home runs in 133 games. Had 11 extra base hits in 36 games with AAA Indianapolis last year.
· RHP Thomas Harrington-in 21 games in AAA last year, 7-9, 5.34 ERA, 90 strikeouts, 33 walks in 96 innings. Walks were up a high percentage as was his WHIP, 0.96 in 2024 to 1.31 in 2025. He will have the opportunity to compete as the fifth starter.