Top Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Training Storylines to Follow

The one thing the Pirates missed out on this offseason was the acquisition of a marquee free-agent bat. However, with consensus top prospect Konnor Griffin knocking on the doors to the majors, they may more than make up for it.

Griffin is still just 19 years old, but you would never guess it from the way he plays. Across three levels of the minors, Griffin hit .333/.415/.527 over 122 games. He also hit 21 home runs (48 XBHs), and stole 65 bags.

The Pirates could certainly use his output on the left side of their infield. Granted, Griffin still has yet to play a game at the Triple-A level. The safe play would be to start him there and bring him up. However, given the Pirates’ offseason pursuits, they seem to be more open to taking on some risk.

It will ultimately depend on how the rest of Spring Training goes for Griffin. Currently, he is hitting .192/.276/.577 with three home runs over his 29 plate appearances. That said, he has touched 110mph exit velocity, and at 19 years old will only get stronger.

For Pirates fans, the prospect of going into a season with both Skenes and Griffin operating at full capacity is certainly a welcome one. Griffin will almost certainly need some time to get adjusted. But, it is incredibly rare to see such a complete prospect at this age and level of development. 

The Pirates will have to make a decision on whether to have him start the year in Triple-A or the majors soon. Griffin will still have a bit of time to earn his place on the Opening Day roster. If all goes well, Griffin will get to show Pirates fans the first glimpse at their superstar of the future.

A Bulking-Up Oneil Cruz

The Pirates player who could stand to take the biggest step forward is Oneil Cruz.

Cruz has been mostly great for the Pirates since his debut in 2021, but he struggled on offense last year. Even so, he still managed to hit over 20 home runs and led the National League in stolen bases with 38. 

However, Cruz hit .200/.298/.378 over his 135 games. He walked at an 11.8% clip, but he also struck out 32% of the time. For a power hitter like Cruz, some swing-and-miss is to be expected. Still, the Pirates will need more from him to take the next step forward in 2026.

Cruz seemingly took his struggles to heart in the offseason, and has entered the preseason set on making this clear. He seemingly put on a sizable amount of muscle in the offseason. He also spent time working on his outfield defense with Kevin Kiermaier.

This has been put on full display throughout his early Spring Training and World Baseball Classic results. Cruz simply looks more comfortable in the box, and has hit .538/.600/.846 in his limited Spring Training at-bats. 

Playing for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, Cruz has had limited playing time. Though, he has made the most of it. Cruz is 3/3 with two long home runs, two walks, and no strikeouts thus far. This showing is incredibly encouraging for how Cruz may perform in a higher-stakes atmosphere this year.

We will need a larger sample to fully assess whether Cruz has leveled up his game this year. Still, the early signs of progress are undeniable. With the Pirates adding some much-needed lineup protection, Cruz could put up a career year this year.

Under New Management

One of the bright spots of the Pirates’ 2025 season was the arrival of manager Don Kelly.

The Pirates moved on from former manager Derek Shelton in May 2025. For most teams, losing your skipper just a few short months into the season would not bode well. Though, in fairness, they were 12-26 at the time and in the middle of a seven-game losing streak.

After five years and change of middling performances, the Pirates front office felt they had to shake things up. So, Shelton was relieved from his duties and Kelly, the bench coach at the time, assumed the role. However, nobody could have expected how quickly things would shift.

The Pirates did not become playoff contenders overnight, but they did shift pace significantly. When Kelly took over, the Pirates were on pace to lose roughly 110 games. Yet, they finished the season with a 71-91 record.

Losing 90+ games is still far from ideal. Still, it marked a tangible step in the right direction for the franchise. Players have been vocal in their support for Kelly as manager, specifically praising his emphasis on building clubhouse culture and prioritizing team success over individual performance.

This season marks Kelly’s first full season as manager. Factoring in the various additions the club made over the offseason, the emergence of Griffin, and the further development of their young pitching staff, he’ll have plenty more to work with this year.

So far, the Pirates are 13-6 in their Spring Training games. Spring Training records are hardly predictive of regular season success, sure. But based on early playoff odds and win projections, the Pirates’ Spring Training success under Kelly’s leadership could indicate a major vibe shift in Pittsburgh this summer.