BRADENTON, Fla. -- They packed up the Pirates’ paraphernalia for the move from Pirate City to LECOM Park. With that, Spring Training has shifted from athletic acclimation to actual evaluation.
As the Buccos begin their Grapefruit League season against the Orioles at 1:05 p.m. ET on Saturday at Sarasota’s Ed Smith Stadium, here are the top five things their decision-makers will be evaluating in exhibition play.
1. The Konnor Griffin question
MLB Pipeline’s No. 1 prospect Konnor Griffin was the MVP of the Pirates’ first week of full-squad workouts. He wowed onlookers with one rocket shot after another, effortlessly clearing the batter's eye and routinely pelting the roof of the batting cages in left.
Now we’ll see how that power translates to games, and whether Griffin can seize the Opening Day shortstop assignment.
“Having been around really talented players for a long time,” said general manager Ben Cherington, “I feel responsibility to think about what’s best for him, long-term, and obviously we want to marry that up with what’s best for the Pirates long-term, if we can.”
At 6-foot-4, 222 pounds, Griffin doesn’t look 19. But he is 19 (until April 24) and has only played 21 games above A-ball. So Griffin most likely starts the season in the Minors.
Then again, the Prospect Promotion Incentive can earn a team an extra Draft pick should it roster a top prospect from the get-go and he wins Rookie of the Year. When Paul Skenes won that prize in 2024, the Pirates missed out on this Draft pick because Skenes began that year in the Minors. They also lost an extra year of control over Skenes because his service time, as the rookie winner, was automatically bumped up to a full season.
Whether that experience will impact their thinking on Griffin remains to be seen.
For now, let’s watch the kid play.
2. The ripple effects of a busy offseason
The arrivals of designated hitter Marcell Ozuna, second baseman Brandon Lowe and first baseman/DH/right fielder Ryan O’Hearn create a crowded lineup picture for some younger players.
Ozuna’s arrival impacted O’Hearn, who was ticketed for a heavy dose of DH and first base but is now (barring a spring trade of Spencer Horwitz, penciled-in at first) projected to see a lot of time in the outfield. That’s fewer DH at-bats available to Lowe, too. So Ozuna impacts both the infield and outfield.
Barring a change – or a Griffin promotion -- it’s Jared Triolo at third, Nick Gonzales at short, Bryan Reynolds in left, Oneil Cruz in center and O’Hearn in right. That crowds the floor for the likes of Jake Mangum, Nick Yorke, Jhostynxon Garcia and other young players who will try to assert themselves in these spring games.
“As excited as we are about the offense,” said Cherington, “we don't want to lose sight of trying to build the best defensive team we can.”
3. The catching equation
Joey Bart has graded out poorly on the defensive side while Henry Davis, surprisingly, has seen his bat lag behind his defense.
Given the need for defense in this lineup, it makes sense for Davis to handle the bulk of starts, with Bart as the backup. But the Pirates would obviously love to see the data-driven changes Davis has made with his swing translate to better results this spring.
Bart’s bat does have trade value, so that’s something to watch. Rafael Flores Jr. and Endy Rodríguez are also on the 40-man roster.
4. The rotation beyond Paul Skenes and Mitch Keller
The Pirates communicated to their starters not named Skenes and Keller that nothing is set in stone beyond that prominent pair. But young guns Bubba Chandler and Braxton Ashcraft each have a leg up on a spot.
The race for the fifth spot (the Pirates aren’t expected to begin the season with a six-man rotation, despite finishing 2025 with one) includes veteran acquisitions José Urquidy and Mike Clevinger, incumbent Carmen Mlodzinski and youngsters Thomas Harrington and Hunter Barco.
The above does not preclude the Pirates from adding another option in free agency or trade by the end of camp.
“Like every team, we’ll keep hunting,” Cherington said. “If the season started tomorrow, we'd feel confident where our pitching group would be. Figuring out exactly what roles is what’s going to take a little time.”
5. The bullpen battle
Manager Don Kelly isn’t committing to Dennis Santana as a full-time closer, seeing the value in having him available wherever the late-inning leverage presents itself.
“We’re gonna have multiple guys, including Santana, that pitch meaningful innings at the back end of the game,” Kelly said.
Gregory Soto, Isaac Mattson and Justin Lawrence all fit that category. Mlodzinski might if he finishes out of the running for a starter spot. Trade acquisition Mason Montgomery has really turned heads in camp with the way he’s been throwing.
Kyle Nicolas, Yohan Ramírez and Evan Sisk are some other arms the Pirates will sort through. One or both of the young starting prospects the Pirates added to their 40-man -- Antwone Kelly and Wilber Dotel (the latter of whom is starting the spring opener against the O’s) -- could break into the big leagues via the bullpen.
“Usually by the end of Spring Training, someone has stepped up and done more than you think, and someone hasn't,” Cherington said. “It'll work itself out.”
The real work starts now.