3 questions the Pirates still need to answer before Opening Day

BRADENTON, Fla. -- Opening Day is just two weeks away -- and the Pirates still have some important decisions to make before they take on the Mets on March 26 at Citi Field.

Spring Training has already provided some notable storylines for the 2026 club, but the Bucs are hoping to see a few more developments over the final couple weeks of camp.

With that in mind, here’s a look at the three biggest questions the Pirates still need to answer:

Will Konnor Griffin break camp with the team?

This was perhaps the biggest question entering camp, and Griffin’s performance has only fueled further speculation.

The No. 1 overall prospect, per MLB Pipeline, has put his full skillset on display this spring. He’s crushed three home runs, flashed elite speed on the basepaths and showcased his strong arm defensively, all while competing with Nick Gonzales for the shortstop job.

Of course, Griffin is also just 19 years old and has yet to even play a game at Triple-A -- and he’s played only 21 games at Double-A, for that matter. In other words, Griffin has faced very little Major League-caliber pitching to this point in his brief professional career.

There’s no question that Griffin still has plenty of development left and setting him up for long-term success is going to be the Pirates’ primary focus.

At the very least, he’s made it a tough decision for the Pirates.

Who will be in the Opening Day rotation?

It’s no secret that Paul Skenes and Mitch Keller will be in the Pirates’ Opening Day rotation. Though not official yet, Bubba Chandler and Braxton Ashcraft likely will be, too.

As for the final rotation spot, there are a few candidates who remain in the mix.

Ideally, the Pirates would like to see newcomer José Urquidy return to form after throwing just 2 1/3 Major League innings last season in his return from Tommy John surgery. The veteran righty, though, has allowed six earned runs in five innings (10.80 ERA) through two spring starts. He has just two strikeouts, matching the number of both walks and home runs he's conceded.

Beyond Urquidy, some of the other top options include Carmen Mlodzinski, Hunter Barco and veteran Mike Clevinger.

Mlodzinski, who has experience as both a starter and reliever, would land a bullpen spot if he’s not in the rotation. Barco, MLB Pipeline’s No. 96 prospect, is off to a solid start this spring but could begin the season atop the rotation at Triple-A. Clevinger, who is looking to extend his career after a few injury-riddled seasons, is in camp as a non-roster invitee.

The Pirates are looking for someone to step in until right-hander Jared Jones is ready to return in late May or early June. Jones will begin the season on the 60-day IL as he continues his recovery from right elbow surgery.

How will the Pirates split up the catcher reps?

Joey Bart and Henry Davis split the catcher reps relatively evenly last season, with Bart starting 76 games behind the plate to Davis’ 74.

Neither player produced much offensively. Bart slashed .249/.355/.340, good for a .695 OPS. Davis, meanwhile, slashed just .167/.234/.278. His .512 OPS ranked 308th among 309 players with at least 250 plate appearances (Oswald Peraza, .473 OPS).

As a unit, Pirates catchers hit a combined .210 (26th in MLB) with a .605 OPS (27th in MLB).

Bart and Davis are again competing for reps this spring, though two other catchers -- Endy Rodriguez and Rafael Flores Jr. (the Pirates’ No. 10 prospect) -- are also in the mix.

Though Spring Training results certainly don’t paint the full picture, both Davis and Bart are off to a slow start. Entering Thursday, Bart was just 2-for-21 (.095) with nine strikeouts, one walk and zero extra-base hits. Davis was 0-for-15 with three strikeouts and two walks.

“Nobody wants to hit more than Henry and Joey do,” manager Don Kelly said. “When you’re struggling, you feel it at night, you wake up and you come in and you work. And then, when you don’t see the success right away, you feel that.”

Flores is also off to a slow start, going 2-for-15 with six strikeouts. Rodriguez, meanwhile, is 5-for-20 (.250) with two home runs, seven strikeouts and four walks -- good for a .975 OPS.

It’s worth noting that catchers sometimes take the longest to find a good rhythm in camp because they’re being eased into their workload a bit slower than others given the physical demands of the position.

“Especially when you’re early on [in Spring Training] with the catchers, they’re catching, getting two days off, catching, getting two days off,” Kelly said. “Now we’re starting to see them go back-to-back [days] or even catch, day off, catch. … So, we’ll start to get a little more consistency for them, which will hopefully help them get going.”