Pittsburgh Pirates 2023 Season Preview

Story by Yinzer Crazy Contributor Roger l. McNamara

Winter/Spring Review.   A November article in this space looked back on consecutive 100 loss seasons by offering a few glimpses of where the coming 2023 campaign might uncover improvements.  Named were starting pitchers Roansy Contreras, Mitch Keller and Quinn Preister.  Hopes were further pinned on Infield prospects Liover Peguero, Nick Gonzales and Oniel Cruz.  With the possible exception of thinning the infield ranks, no significant Front Office moves were anticipated over the Winter.  Now as field Manager Derek Shelton and his charges wind down Spring Training at their Bradenton, FL LECOM Field home, and as the team looks forward to its March 30 regular season Opener at Cincinnati it seems a good time to review what has transpired, and on what the Bucs fan base may base its hopes for 2023.

Winter Meetings, Winter Moves.   In a pleasant surprise the organization did not idle away the Winter.  With Principal owner Robert Nutting --- whose 61st Birthday will be observed Wednesday of this week --- funding the operation, recently acquired General Manager Ben Cherington set about to wheel and deal.  Consensus reviews accord him a solid A for his off season work, as now included in the Pirate tent are:

• Andrew McCutchen, a 36 year old right hand power hitter.  A former Pirate --- 9 seasons from 2009 through 2017 --- a lifetime .277 hitter with 287 home runs to his credit --- he was plucked from the Milwaukee Brewer roster and inked to a one year deal with Pittsburgh.   He was sidelined for a portion of training camp with elbow soreness, thus will likely open the season as Bucs DH;       
• Austin Hedges, age 30 and a veteran of nine MLB seasons, mostly with the San Diego Padres which earned him familiarity with National League opponents.  He should not be counted on for much offensive firepower --- a career sub-.200 hitter --- but his defensive skills are superb.   In close to 4,700 innings behind the dish he has committed only 18 passed balls with an overall .991 fielding percentage.  Opposing runners challenge him at their peril --- Hedges has gunned down an amazing 43% of attempted base steals.  His presence, experience and overall savvy should also stabilize and bolster team pitching;

• 13 year veteran Carlos Santana will tote his switch hitting power bat with its 242 home runs and .791 OPS+ into Allegheny County where he rates to alternate DH and Right Field assignments with McCutchen.  He also brings 36 candles on the birthday cake, but at least so far he has incurred very little down time. 

Play Ball.  For all its changes over the decades, it remains a game in which nothing of consequence happens until a player in the center of the infield toes a rubber and flings one toward home plate.  More succinctly, the Name of the Game is Pitching.  Right hander Mitch Keller is penciled in as Thursday’s Season Opening Day starter in Cincinnati.  He found his velocity and a groove from June of last year through season’s end, posting a 3.20 ERA over 115+ innings.  He is on record as confident of the Pirate rotation. 

Contreras was mentioned above, and they will be joined by JT Brubaker, Johann Oviedo and Vince Valasquez.   Preister was optioned to AAA so as to get a few more innings under his belt and strengthen up the arm.  Expect him to be promoted to the varsity before the 162 game schedule is one-third complete. The relief corps remains a big question --- hopes are pinned on continued improvement from 28 year old right handed flame thrower David Bednar.  He pitched well this Spring in the WBC, and brings along 19 saves from 2022 to go with a sparkling 2.61 ERA. 

New Rules.  Like teams across the Nation, Pittsburgh devoted much of training camp getting acclimated to the various rule changes triggered for this year.  A dissection and analysis lies beyond the scope of this article, but for now it does seem as though a net advantage accrues to the offense. The Bucs present lineup combination of speed and power should certainly juice the octane level enough to yield a significant step up in runs scored per game.   As with each MLB team, much will descend upon the Pirates as the months pass, and we will all have a clearer picture as the trade deadline approaches.  At this remove it is unrealistic to envision the Bucs as challengers in the 2023 NL East.  Still it is entirely realistic to expect material improvement over recent 100 loss campaigns.  A serious run at the .500 mark is within the team’s reach.

New Home Park?   A facility which opened up in 2001 may not accurately be described as “new”, but under the energetic insights of Team President Travis Williams a series of enhancements will now be enjoyed at 38,362 seat capacity PNC Park.  A response to fan feedback, a some of these are:

• beginning right at the entrance gates, modern technology is now in place to smooth the screening and access process of the ticket holder and other attendees;   
• both first and third base sides will now feature walk-in, family friendly kiosks and food markets, enabling customers to causally stroll through, select their favorites and pay with ease;
• graphics and banners highlighting the riches of Pirate history, to include its media broadcasters, will be on display throughout the lower concourse, in a manner not to interfere with spectator views of the diamond;
• a perennial fan favorite returns this year --- Friday free T-Shirt give aways.

Those for whom attendance at a Pirate home game has been a while, a return to an afternoon/evening at the Park promises time and money well spent. While no single game, series or opponent is unimportant, a few dates of especial note on the 2023 home schedule are:



• April 7 Home Opener versus AL Chicago White Sox;
• April 10-12, defending World Champion Houston Astros;
• June 9-11, Division rival New York Mets;
• July 28-30, in State opponent Philadelphia Phillies;
• August 7-10, a four game set with the always challenging Atlanta Braves;
• September 15-17, a weekend get together with the New York Yankees.           

Play Ball!