2025 Pittsburgh Pirates Opening Day Roster

S. Samek

With a new season of Pittsburgh Pirates baseball ready to start let’s see who made the opening day roster for 2025. Then we can make some predictions for how the season will go.

Pitching

Paul Skenes is starting opening day and headlines the rotation. The 2024 National League Rookie of the Year winner is spending his first full season with the club after being his call up last year.

Jared Jones had a great rookie year if overshadowed by Skenes’s arrival. However, Jones was hurt during spring training and will start the season out with an elbow injury.

Mitch Keller and Bailey Falter return to the rotation Andrew Heaney a free agent signing also earned a spot in the rotation.

The fifth spot went to Carmen Mlodzinski. Thomas Herrington a top prospect was also in the mix for the final rotation spot.

So, the rotation should be ok for the time being. Bubba Chandler may also be called up in due time and it wouldn’t surprise me if Herrington also gets the call to the majors this season.

The bullpen seems to be a bit different this year with new additions. Though it seems like the biggest question mark is the closer role. David Bednar was removed from the role last September and the team went with a closer by committee role. Colin Holderman and Dennis Santana could get looks as the closer, or the team could return to Bednar in the role. Should be interesting how they handle the relief pitching this season.

Hitting

Endy Rodriguez made the team over Henry Davis as the backup catcher to Joey Bart.

First base is going to be by committee thanks to an injury to Spencer Horwitz. Jared Triolo looks to get a lot of reps there though. Triolo is coming off a Gold Glove season as a utility player in 2024. Rodriguez should also see time at first.

Though the hitting core seems to be pretty much the same. In fact, there are lots of questions surrounding if this team has enough hitting to compete. I feel like there definitely is room to improve offensively.

It should also be interesting to see O’Neil Cruiz playing a full season in the outfield after converting last season from shortstop.

Predictions

I feel like this teams probably around where they were last year. I’m thinking winning 75-80 games is a realistic goal. 85 wins might be obtainable as well but is probably the ceiling.

As for a division title it’s probably a pipe dream. The Cubs and Brewers should be the favorites to win the National League Central this year. Though the Central was a little weaker last year, so maybe if the two teams mentioned struggle a bit the Pirates may have an outside chance if everything goes right.

A wild card spot might not be off the table though, but it would probably require 85 wins or more. So, if they hit the ceiling a trip to the playoffs is reasonable expectation.

I don’t think they make the playoffs this season though unless they reenforce the roster a bit more. After a pretty lackluster offseason I doubt they do so during the season.

I still can’t wait for the season to start. So, here’s open the Pirates exceed expectations in 2025.