PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Who will be the Pirates All-Star? Their best rookie? How many wins? The biggest question marks for 2024?
It's like opening a high school yearbook and you skim for the superlatives. Here are those for the 2024 Pirates.
Wins-81
· An improvement from the 76 wins last season showing the improvement in the lineup, the uncertainty of the NL Central, the potential of a couple of Pirates superstars. Breaks and injuries could tip the scales in either direction, it's more improvement, but not yet the contenders desperately wanted by the fanbase.
5 questions
When does 2023 first-overall pick Paul Skenes get the callup?
· There doesn't seem to be a doubt from anyone who has seen him pitch or met him that he will be a force in the majors. How long does he stay in AAA? When do the Pirates decide they will get another arbitration year out of him and allow him to join the MLB team?
What will become of 1st base?
· More expensive options out there, the Pirates decided to select another body-type first baseman—stocky, left-handed with power numbers in their past, but not recently. The team loves Rowdy Tellez personality and approach and that's great. Can he provide an offensive weapon and be good enough to help the team defensively? He hit 13 last year.
Outfield upgrade
· Bryan Reynolds said it well that bringing in Michael A. Taylor solidifies the outfield. Taylor is known for his defense, but also hit 21 home runs with the Twins last season. Taylor could start 110 games if the bat is right and even be used as a late-inning defensive substitution.
Catcher Henry
· Rave reviews during Grapefruit League play and work in Bradenton, but there had to be a reason they wouldn't give Henry Davis a sniff at catcher last season. What becomes of Davis behind the plate in 2024?
AAA Depth
· Skenes is there, but what else is waiting at AAA for the first injury or bout of ineffectiveness in the majors? Quinn Priester said his stuff is more powerful this year and he competed until the end of Spring Training for a rotation spot. Can Jackson Wolf, Braxton Ashcraft, Anthony Solometo, Thomas Harrington, Bubba Chandler develop into starting options over the span of the season? Liover Peguero had the inside track to be the starter at second, how will he handle starting in the minors. Can Nick Gonzales live up to a first-round selection? Could either become an option if Jared Triolo struggles? Joshua Palacios had a nice September and Canaan Smith-Njigba are outfield options. Ari Sanchez was signed as a good defensive catcher.
All-Star
· Ke'Bryan Hayes will continue the better approach and hitting overall and with his glove parlay that into his first appearance in an All-Star Game
Rookie of the Year
· I could have looked for other options, but from the moment Paul Skenes arrives he will be their best rookie and maybe best player. You could talk yourself into anything, this one is too obvious.
Best pitcher
· In an effort not to double-up and not just pick Mitch Keller, Martin Perez. The soon-to-be, 33-year-old left-hander had a 4.45 ERA with Texas, but has been impressive in Spring. He's just a year removed from a 12-8 record and 2.89 ERA in 32 starts.
Surprise reliever
· Last year it was former starter Carmen Mlodzinski finishing 3-3 with a 2.25 ERA in 35 appearances. Roansy Contreras has always had the stuff, but just seems bewildered starting right now. The bullpen less complicated, come in, throw an inning, maybe two, simplify and throw strikes. He'll get his confidence back and potentially find a new role in his career.
Best defender
· Hayes could probably be picked every year, but Jared Triolo was an outstanding third baseman and has worked incredibly hard at second. He said he takes pride in helping out the pitchers as his motivation.
Best batting average
· Hayes, part of the reason he is an All-Star
Most doubles
· Hayes and Henry Davis
Most HR
· Jack Suwinski
Most RBI
· Bryan Reynolds
Pirates will surprise and compete for the division if the following happens
1. The starters are better than anticipated and a couple of young pitchers come through
2. More power from the lineup to allow for quick runs/more runs
3. Bullpen is lights out again, if they can pick up the ball from the seventh or even sixth inning, takes the pressure off the starters
Pirates will finish in last place like so many predict if
1. The starters are bad and they don't yet have the depth in the rotation
2. Key injuries, even though they held on initially after the Oneil Cruz injury in 2023, the depth is not there to sustain key players missing time
3. If lineup questions emerge—if Cruz struggles, Suwinski is all-or-nothing, Davis and Triolo provide little offense, first-base becomes an offensive vacuum
It will be fun to look back at the end of the season to see how it plays out. What will become of the 2024 Pirates?
