Early camp look at the potential Opening Day roster
What the Pittsburgh Pirates' 2025 Opening Day roster may look like
With the Pittsburgh Pirates getting ready for their first full-squad workout, I wanted to look at how things could be heading as far as the Opening Day roster.
They were already hit with a blow before camp started, as Spencer Horwitz will miss some time after having surgery on his wrist.
Most positions are already set in stone, with the bench needing to fall into place, a few spots in the bullpen, and the fifth starter spot.
Lineup and Bench
C - Joey Bart
1B - TBD
2B - Nick Gonzales
3B - Ke’Bryan Hayes
SS - Isiah Kiner-Falefa
LF - Tommy Pham
CF - Oneil Cruz
RF - Bryan Reynolds
DH - Andrew McCutchen
BN - Henry Davis
BN - Jared Triolo
BN - Adam Frazier
BN - Jack Suwinski
With Horwitz out, the first base position is wide open right now, and there are not many ideal candidates on the 40-man roster to fill it. They could slide Jared Triolo there, but you will probably want to give Ke’Bryan Hayes an extra day off here and there at third, so you don’t want to commit too much time at first for Triolo to keep him free.
There’s a strong chance that Darick Hall could have the inside track right now unless they move someone who hasn’t played first before over there in the coming weeks.
I don’t think Nick Gonzales should be cemented in as the starting second baseman, but he certainly has the leg up right now on someone like Nick Yorke. A second baseman by nature, Yorke has played all over and could fill a super-utility-type role if he makes the team.
Bryan Reynolds and his 11 outfield assists from 2024 will be sliding over to right field, with Tommy Pham filling in at left.
The bench was the biggest puzzle, and who they settled on at first could change things. I get the feeling that the Pirates would really love Jack Suwinski to figure things out. He’d be a big source of power that they currently miss, and he has experience in all three outfield spots.
Adam Frazier presents a left-handed bat that can play the infield.
It’s not often that you say a bench player could ultimately make a crucial difference for the team, but that’s an argument that could be made for Henry Davis. More Triple-A time doesn’t do much for his development, he needs to hit major league pitching.
If he does, that’s a legitimate power bat that you can plug into the middle of the lineup, no matter where he plays defensively.
Pitching Staff
SP - Paul Skenes
SP - Mitch Keller
SP - Jared Jones
SP - Bailey Falter
SP - Mike Burrows/Johan Oviedo
RP - Johan Oviedo/Mike Burrows
RP - Dennis Santana (RHP)
RP - Kyle Nicolas (RHP)
RP - Carmen Mlodzinski (RHP)
RP - Tim Mayza (LHP)
RP - Colin Holderman (RHP)
RP - Caleb Ferguson (LHP)
RP - David Bednar (RHP)
The rotation is basically set, with the fifth spot the only opening. Even if Johan Oviedo is good to go from the start of camp, the Pirates will probably want to ease him back in.
Having Mike Burrows on the major league roster gives them another starter that Oviedo can piggyback on as he eases back in. You can always slide him around if needed on another day.
The addition of Tim Mayza and Caleb Ferguson in free agency kind of fills in the last few pieces of the bullpen puzzle. Ferguson is reportedly going to have an opportunity to work on a starter’s schedule in the Spring. While he probably won’t win a rotation spot, that could work out for them as he’d be another pitcher who could throw multiple innings early in the season.
With no big splash in the offseason, as they did with Aroldis Chapman, David Bednar should get the first crack at reclaiming the closer role he lost at the end of 2024. There’s a chance for a committee approach with Colin Holderman, Carmen Mlodzinski, Kyle Nicolas, and Ferguson.
The rotation should be the team's strength, which could allow them to get creative with that fifth spot. As a starter, right now, I prefer Burrows over Braxton Ashcraft.
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