Opening Day is just over a week away, and the Pittsburgh Pirates are putting the finishing touches on what could be a very different kind of season in the Steel City.
The Pirates have now completed five rounds of Spring Training cuts, trimming their Major League Camp down to 39 players — 38 active, with ace Jared Jones on the 60-day injured list.
The rotation figures to be a genuine strength, anchored by reigning National League Cy Young winner Paul Skenes and Mitch Keller, with top prospect Bubba Chandler and Braxton Ashcraft rounding things out. The fifth spot remains a question mark until Jones returns around June.
The offense got a major offseason overhaul — Brandon Lowe, Marcell Ozuna, and Ryan O’Hearn all came aboard to fix what was a league-worst attack a year ago.
And then there’s the elephant in the room — nineteen-year-old Konnor Griffin, the number one overall prospect in all of baseball, is pushing hard for an Opening Day roster spot — though his age and limited experience above High-A may send him to Triple-A Indianapolis to start the year.
Pittsburgh opens the regular season March 26th against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Expectations are rising on the North Shore. Bucco fans, it’s almost time.
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