PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Early national predictions show the Pirates as the fourth-best team, in their own division. There is not a lot of optimism locally or nationally about how the Bucs will do. However, one of the Pirates best all-time hitters thinks it’s all in front of the 2025 team.
“If they are not in a pennant race in September, I would be very, very surprised,” former Pirates catcher Jason Kendall told Jason Mackey on 93.7 The Fan.
Having worked with a couple of the current players recently, Kendall’s optimism comes from its starting pitching.
“This staff Pittsburgh has, wow,” Kendall said on 93.7 The Fan. “You talk about a staff I would have loved to catch. It’s unbelievable. They are that good, because of the pitching.”
Before we get to Paul Skenes, it was the Pirates most recent signing that has him excited. Kendall believes the addition of 33-year-old left-handed starter Andrew Heaney is huge for this team.
From his perspective as someone who caught in the majors for 15 seasons, it’s that left-hander in the rotation with a funky delivery that helps out Skenes, Jared Jones and Mitch Keller. Kendall said when you can go into a series and mix in someone like Heaney it makes it easier for manager Derek Shelton. He can mix his group so an opposing team can’t settle in on three hard-throwing right-handers.
He believes this gives the Pirates a huge advantage as he would put the Pirates top prospect Bubba Chandler in the fifth spot in the rotation. Johan Oviedo continues to work back from Tommy John surgery with lefty Bailey Falter and prospects Thomas Harrington, Mike Burrows and Braxton Ashcraft as options.
Kendall said Skenes is ‘without a doubt’ the best pitcher in the game right now. This even though he’s only 22-years-old and entering his first full season in the majors. It’s not that Kendall thinks it will be a breeze for National League Rookie of the Year, he said MLB hitters are the best of the best and will be studying video to try and beat him.
Kendall isn’t quick with praise or isn’t one to make statements to get a rise out of people, but he believes in the 2025 Pirates.