MLB

2025 Pittsburgh Pirates Preview: A Season of Possibility and Pressure

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By
Colin Lynch
Author photo
Colin Lynch Sports Editor

Colin Lynch covers the NFL, MLB and WNBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the New England Patriots. His sports coverage has been featured on The Sports Daily and Basketball Insiders, as well as FanSided's Chowder & Champions. A New Hampshire native and former D1 baseball player at St. John's University, Colin was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 2008 and enjoyed a four-year professional baseball career.

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Published12 Mar 2025

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2025 Pittsburgh Pirates Preview: A Season of Possibility and Pressure

For the Pittsburgh Pirates, 2025 is more than just another season. It is a test, a moment in time where promise must finally turn into progress. Armed with one of the most electrifying young pitchers in baseball, the Pirates need to prove they are building something real.

Because if history has taught Pirates fans anything, it’s that time is never guaranteed.

If you count the 2013 NL Wild Card Game, the Pirates have just one postseason series win since 1979. A brief playoff window from 2013-15 gave hope, but since then, the franchise has been mired in mediocrity. And with an owner in Bob Nutting known for keeping the payroll low, the question lingers: Will Pittsburgh capitalize on its rare golden opportunity with Paul Skenes?

Pirates Need Thier Bats to Take a Leap 

If the Pirates hope to contend, their bats need to wake up.

A bottom-five offense in 2024, Pittsburgh finished 24th in runs scored and 28th in wOBA (.296). They struck out too often, walked too little, and hit for minimal power.

Yet, there were bright spots.

  • Oneil Cruz stayed healthy, logging 599 plate appearances while posting a 110 wRC+ with 21 homers and 22 steals.
  • Joey Bart, acquired in an early-season trade, flashed his potential, leading the team in wRC+ (121) and wOBA (.347).
  • Bryan Reynolds and Andrew McCutchen remained reliable, with Cutch drawing walks and hitting 20 homers.

But the struggles outweighed the successes. Ke’Bryan Hayes endured a miserable year in just 96 games, and Jack Suwinski—after clubbing 26 home runs in 2023—saw his power collapse, managing just nine home runs with a 62 wRC+.

The offseason moves didn’t do much to overhaul the lineup. The Pirates acquired Spencer Horwitz in a three-team deal and signed Tommy Pham, but the core remains the same.

Without a breakout year from Hayes or a midseason call-up like Termarr Johnson, Pittsburgh’s offense will likely remain in the bottom third of the league.

Pittsburgh Pirates Feature a Young, Dynamic Core on the Mound 

The reason for hope in Pittsburgh? A generational arm.

Paul Skenes, the 2024 NL Rookie of the Year, was nothing short of dominant.

  • 1.96 ERA, 2.44 FIP, 133 IP
  • 2.53 xERA
  • Unhittable velocity, electric command

Skenes was everything the Pirates could have hoped for and more, and if he stays healthy, he will be a Cy Young favorite for years to come.

And he’s not alone.

  • Jared Jones, a hard-throwing righty, had an up-and-down season but still finished with a 4.14 ERA and 4.00 FIP in 121.2 innings. He missed time but remains an essential part of the rotation.
  • Mitch Keller continues to be a durable, above-average arm, throwing over 530 innings in the past three seasons. He’s reliable, and on a better team, he’d be a No. 3 or No. 4 starter—a luxury for Pittsburgh.
  • Bubba Chandler, the Pirates’ latest rising star, dominated at Triple-A with a 1.83 ERA and 2.78 FIP, positioning himself one step away from the majors.

The back end of the rotation is less inspiring. Johan Oviedo and Bailey Falter will likely round it out, but depth remains a major issue.

And then, there’s the bullpen.

Without Aroldis Chapman, the Pirates lack a true power arm in relief. David Bednar could be a bounce-back candidate, but Pittsburgh’s bullpen will need to overachieve to be anything more than average.

The Big Picture in Pittsburgh 

The Pirates have something most small-market teams dream of: a true ace.

Paul Skenes is a foundation. Jared Jones could be a star. Bubba Chandler is on the way. But without a competitive offense and ownership willing to invest in the roster, Pittsburgh risks wasting its best shot at contention in years.

The road ahead demands action. For now, the Pirates remain a team of potential, still searching for prosperity.