PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – The first Grapefruit League game is Saturday on 100.1 FM and AM 1020 KDKA as Pirates Spring Training play begins. What does the Pirates lineup look like?
There are some variables that will come into play over the course of the next month. Heading into that first exhibition game, here is a glimpse of the potential Bucco lineup.
Andrew McCutchen-DH
· Not the speed he had early in his career, but at age 36 had a .343 on-base percentage (10th in the majors last year, two one-thousandths of a point behind Luis Arraez) and a .781 OPS batting leadoff in 364 at bats. He is pretty consistent facing left-handed or right-handed pitching.
Bryan Reynolds-RF
· Pirates committed to him batting second last year and he had an All-Star season hitting .275, .344 on-base, .791 OPS, 24 HR, 88 RBI. There are several things that need changed with the Pirates lineup, this should stay the same.
Oneil Cruz-CF
· You could find other spots for this bat, but with this group, he best fits in the three-spot where he spent 287 of 541 at bats in 2024 with 25 doubles, 8 HR, 43 RBI. He hit with more power in limited opportunities at cleanup and could find himself there again. It’s critical for this offense that Cruz has a big year and that he can at least hold his own against lefties.
Joey Bart-C
· The 27-year-old had only 57 official at bats as the cleanup hitter with 14 RBI and a .964 OPS. The splits between righties (.241 average, .730 OPS, 8 HR, 34 RBI in 187 AB) and lefties (.333, .996, 5 HR, 11 RBI in 66 at bats) could mean your cleanup hitter could be situational instead of every day. Who would have thought Bart would have 45 RBI in 253 at bats at this time last year?
Nick Gonzales-2B
· Clutch in 2024 in his first full look with 49 RBI in 94 games. It wasn’t a perfect season, dealing with an injury he hit for a higher average (.326) in the six-spot with an .805 OPS, but the OPS .785 as the five-hitter. The numbers were much better against lefties, given the addition of Adam Frazier it could be a platoon situation.
Tommy Pham-LF
· Few loved that Pham was the big free agent addition, the 37-year-old hit .248 with a .305 on-base percentage with three teams last year. Two years ago, Pham had 27 doubles, 16 HR, 68 HR with a .774 OPS and provide a veteran hitter with 4,379 career plate appearances.
Ke’Bryan Hayes-3B
· It’s a crap shoot where to put Hayes right now. He has hit in the top three for much of his career, but seven seems like the right spot at least to start. He has a .290 career average with a .755 OPS in the seven-spot. For a guy working to get his offense going, it’s a low-pressure spot.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa-SS
· You could flip IKF and Triolo.
Historically, Isiah puts the ball in play, last year after hitting .292 with the Blue Jays, he struggled with the Pirates (.240 average, .265 on-base).
Jared Triolo-1B
· The reason Triolo is battling last is the five home runs in the nine-hole last year. It was only 64 career plate appearances, but it came with a .359 on-base percentage to help potentially turn the order around.