The Pirates have only won two games in the past two weeks, but three home runs from rookie Jack Suwinski, who became the first rookie to have a three-run home run game that included a walk-off according to Elias Sports Bureau.
Suwinski also currently leads all rookies in the MLB with 11 home runs and is starting to creep into the Rookie of the Year discussion.
Add on top of that the arrival of one of baseball's top prospects, Oneil Cruz, expected to make his 2022 debut on Monday when the Cubs come into PNC Park for a four-game series.
Young Pirates continue to make their way up to the big league club, players that will hopefully be a part of the next wave of success for Pittsburgh.
If these players make an impact and are part of the organization for years to come, that's great, but without solid pitching, they won't be going very far.
Mitch Keller has been, for the most part, pitching better and more consistent and Roansy Contreras has been okay, going 1-1 over five games started this season with a 3.06 ERA.
"Unless Quinn Priester pitches well, unless Roansy Contreras pitches well and unless Mitch Keller continues to pitch well, then I don't know where this organization is," said Fan Morning show co-host Colin Dunlap.
With so much offensive talent and not quite as much in regards to pitching, Dunlap suggests the Pirates trade center fielder Bryan Reynolds if the deal includes top-talent pitching.
"If I could get top-end talent in terms of starting pitching or guys that are projected to be big-time starters, even if their ETA is 2024, if somebody is willing to trade to me top-end starting pitching, I'd take it for Bryan Reynolds," said Dunlap.
"Are you trusting that Priester is going to get it together? Are you trusting that [Anthony] Solometo is going to be a guy that rockets through [the system]? Is Roansy Contreras going to be good? I don't know," said Dunlap.
Dunlap adds that the Pirates knew that Jameson Taillon and Gerrit Cole were going to be good and once they had that, they were able to get free agents like A.J. Burnett and Francisco Liriano to fill out the rotation.
The future might be bright for the young Pirates, but it could be dimmed if the Bucs don't stack up on pitching.
